Gennaro Gattuso, the coach of Italy, has issued a clear directive for his team ahead of their vital World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland: focus on positivity and avoid dwelling on fear. He stressed the importance of respecting their opponents in this high-stakes encounter.
The decisive match is scheduled to take place at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, kicking off at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET). The winner will be determined tonight, potentially after 90 minutes, extra time, or even a penalty shoot-out. The victorious side will then proceed to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final on Tuesday, March 31.
Gattuso Calls for Italy to Embrace Positive Thinking
Gattuso deliberately selected the Bergamo venue, hoping to foster a more supportive atmosphere from the fans compared to larger stadiums like San Siro or the Stadio Olimpico. “We know it will start with a wonderful atmosphere, but then it’s up to us to show that we’re keeping that up and in the game,” he conveyed to RAI Sport.
While Italy is widely considered to possess a superior squad on paper, Gattuso cautioned against any form of complacency. “When it comes to set plays, it all starts from scratch, they are very strong in these situations, and we must respect them,” he noted. He acknowledged Italy’s advantage in open play but firmly insisted, “we must not under-estimate them. What we need is patience.” He further highlighted Northern Ireland’s resilience, pointing out that “it is no fluke that Germany and Slovakia struggled to 1-0 wins over them in qualifying. Northern Ireland are tough, even if they aren’t that showy a team.”
Regarding the team’s offensive strategy, Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui are set to lead the attack, with Francesco Pio Esposito positioned on the bench. Gattuso elaborated on their selection: “We’re in good shape there, but what matters is having strikers who can also help develop the moves against a physically strong defence. We need to reach the final third in the right way to find those spaces.”
Addressing the lingering concern of Italy missing the previous two World Cups after play-off defeats to ostensibly weaker opponents, Gattuso reiterated his core message. “The best thing is not to talk about fear,” he asserted. “We must think positive, as many of these players were here four years ago, they know what they went through. Everyone must give 150 per cent.” He added, “I can assure you, throughout this week, we never said the word fear. I am convinced that tonight people will be passionate and put themselves in front of the television cheering us on wildly. It is still up to us, we gave the fans so much disappointment and they are hungry for some joy.”
Before kick-off, a minute’s silence will be observed in memory of Beppe Savoldi, the esteemed former Italy, Bologna, Napoli, and Atalanta striker.