Marco Palestra marked a significant milestone in his career, making his senior debut for Italy in a crucial 2-0 World Cup play-off victory against Northern Ireland. The 21-year-old midfielder expressed his elation, stating, “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”
The Azzurri faced a resilient Northern Ireland defense in Bergamo, but eventually broke the deadlock with a well-placed strike from Sandro Tonali. Tonali then turned provider, setting up Moise Kean to double Italy’s lead and secure their progression to the play-off final.
Palestra’s debut was particularly special as he came on as a substitute in the final minutes. A product of the Atalanta youth academy, currently on loan to Cagliari, he had the unique experience of making his national team bow in his former home stadium.
“This was a unique experience, especially because we won on my debut, so I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,” Palestra shared. He added, “I spent many years in Bergamo, so I am even happier because it was here. Training with players like this and Gennaro Gattuso as a coach is certainly remarkable; we’ve got to keep going like this.”
Italy will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina away in the play-off final on Tuesday, March 31, with a place at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA at stake.
Looking ahead, Palestra remains optimistic: “We have to feel confident. We know that we are up against a strong opponent, but we also know what our quality is. If we play our game the way we can, then we will go through.”