Gennaro Gattuso, head coach of Italy, attended the pre-match press conference for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland, discussing team preparation, player injuries, and the significance of returning to the World Cup, among other topics.
Have you felt the driving force from the entire nation?
From day one, over these past seven months, I have been hearing people asking me to lead the team to the World Cup. Even though I have been a coach for some time, I still consider this the most important match of my career. I am fully prepared and not thinking about negative things. I want to think positively and ambitiously, and we will see the result tomorrow.
Did you sleep well last night? Are those past experiences worth remembering or would you rather forget them?
Tomorrow we need to learn to endure some hardship in the areas where they excel—they will lump the ball into the box and compete fiercely for second balls. We must perform exceptionally well in this aspect. We have been discussing this for months; the current players are very professional, studying the game and tactical systems in various ways, and they understand them thoroughly. We have been watching videos these past two days—we must not lack the ability to anticipate danger. They have an extremely strong belief in every ball, and we must be ready.
As for sleeping, I have to thank our doctors—some medication helps. Otherwise, I would open my eyes at 4:30 or 5 a.m., like a bat.
Marcello Lippi said you are very similar to him.
I read those words and was extremely moved. His comments deeply touched me, and I am very grateful to him.
How are Alessandro Bastoni and Matteo Politano?
Roberto Mancini, Matteo Politano, and Riccardo Calafiori are all fine—they can all play. Yesterday, Bastoni participated in 30% to 35% of the team training; later we will try to push him a bit further. Gianluca Scamacca also joined some training sessions. Currently, the only doubts are about Bastoni and Scamacca.
Have you practiced penalties? Who is the number one penalty taker in this national team?
Giovanni Reijnders is the first-choice penalty taker. We practiced penalties yesterday, and every player in the team took three. We have made preparations in advance, knowing this possibility exists and conducting drills for it.
Is there a spiritual leader like Jannik Sinner in this national team?
It's team spirit. We have important players, but I hope to see the kind of spirit that Sinner embodies throughout the entire national team.
What do you want to say to the Italian people?
It depends on us. If we go out on the field and show a state of complete concentration, everything else will fall into place. We cannot ask for anything from anyone—we are the creators of our own destiny. We need great calmness and realize that we are facing a group of players with blood in their eyes and immense fighting spirit. They say we have no sense of identity, which is normal for them to say, and we must be prepared.
Have you watched previous play-off matches?
I don't need to watch them—they're all in my head. The truth is, if Jorginho had scored that penalty at the Stadio Olimpico, we would already be in the World Cup. When I won the Champions League in 2003, if Massimo Ambrosini hadn't flicked that header... we were still in the quarter-finals then. Luck is an important part of football, but the fact remains that we haven't participated in the World Cup since 2014. However, that's in the past—we need to focus on tomorrow.
When choosing forwards, do you base your decision on current form or also consider the March 31 match?
I'm not thinking about March 31, only about tomorrow. I know I have a very strong forward line at my disposal.
Do you think Northern Ireland can play in open spaces, or will they only rely on long balls and set pieces?
I've watched their recent matches—long balls are their main characteristic. We need to be wary of set pieces and their aggressive style. When Gavin Whyte attacks, he can create threats, but their core feature is still long balls. This is a team with strong vertical attacking capabilities and excellent execution.
Has failing to qualify for the World Cup twice changed people's perception of the national team? Has this increased the pressure on you?
It certainly has. But tomorrow we are striving for a very important goal. The responsibility does not lie with the fans—those two previous failures were huge blows. But today there is no time to talk about the past, only about our objective. We must return to the World Cup; it is crucial for us. The goal is to get back to where we have been for many years and become protagonists again.
Is this match more about psychological preparation?
Preparation is needed from all angles. There are no easy matches anymore. You must maintain concentration for 95 minutes—if you're not ready... we will face difficulties tomorrow. We must learn to defend second balls and show a fighting spirit.
How important is this match compared to the 2006 World Cup?
That was a different world; it was so long ago that I can't even remember those matches clearly... but this one is definitely the most important because the sense of responsibility I feel is incomparable.
What qualities do you admire about Northern Ireland?
We need to perform well, not concede second balls, and achieve a high interception rate. Defensive retreat must be correct—no flat positioning. When center-backs engage in one-on-one situations, we must provide proper protection. We must not take them lightly, nor can we rely on teammates to cover for us; we must learn to anticipate danger.
Can you tell us an interesting story from these past few days that has boosted your confidence?
At the start of the training camp, three, four, or five players couldn't even stand steadily, but in the end, they all pulled through. Scamacca didn't want to go home. I like this kind of spirit—I get along very well with them on the field. Sometimes I can even joke around, but everyone takes their responsibilities seriously. We must bring all this onto the field and reap what we are sowing.
What have you said to the team to ensure we don't miss the World Cup again?
I know it's strange for Italy not to be at the World Cup. I don't like telling players about my past experiences. Players must feel those emotions themselves—if you don't get goosebumps playing in a match like this, nothing I say will help. Once on the field, we must not underestimate the opponent—they have reached this stage because of their extreme desire to win. They say we have no identity, which is normal for them to say, and we must be prepared.
