It all started with a statement made on November 13 by Gennaro Gattuso. The Italy coach notably complained that six South American teams could qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup and that the seventh was entitled to access to the play-offs when, according to him, it is more complicated for the selections from the Europe zone. Enough to make Emiliano Martinez jump.
The 2022 world champion with Argentina did not at all like the words of the 2006 world champion. And it was TyC Sports which relayed his words. “They don’t know what South America is. » Considering that the European elite nations
“always play on perfect, wet pitches”the Aston Villa goalkeeper continued by explaining that Zone AmSud, “there are other complexities that they do not encounter in Europe”.
The media added that “Dibu” Martinez had detailed these famous specificities by speaking “playing conditions, long trips” or even “the particular pressure and atmosphere”. In any case, the Argentinian does not like us to attack South American football at all and he did not hesitate to reframe Kylian Mbappé three years ago, after the latter had compared it to European football.
Martinez had already cropped Mbappé
“He doesn’t know enough about football”notably released Emiliano Martinez. A voice that was raised among many others to denounce the comments of “Kiks”. As for Italy, it no longer has any chance of being directly qualified for the 2026 World Cup after its painful victory won in the final minutes Thursday evening against modest Moldova (0-2).
Gennaro Gattuso and his men face Erling Haaland’s Norway on Sunday, the undisputed leader of his group with three points more than the Nazionale, and a gigantic goal difference (+29 against +12). The Italians must prepare to go through the roadblocks.
