Italy plays its last card this Thursday at San Siro against Norway. But the scenario is improbable. To qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, Squadra Azzurra must beat the Scandinavians by at least nine goals. An almost impossible feat after the heavy defeat conceded in Oslo last June. Gennaro Gattuso, Italian coach, spoke of this impossible mission at a press conference on Wednesday. “9-0 is unthinkable. Then in football, you should never say never, but you have to look at reality,” said the former AC Milan midfielder. Italy is therefore heading towards the play-offs, one more humiliation for a quadruple world champion nation.
“The miracle is almost impossible”
Gattuso tried to temper expectations while preserving his team’s honor. “We are preparing this meeting like a real match. We are playing on our pride and the fact that we are facing a team which, six months ago, put us in great difficulty. With intelligence and head, we will fight to give continuity to what we do. » The Italian technician recalled that the 1-0 defeat in Oslo had changed after the Norwegian opened the score. “In the first 15-20 minutes, I liked Italy. Then after the 1-0, it became another match. They have four players up front who exploit every mistake, and when they form a defensive block, it’s very difficult to put them in difficulty. »
The former OM coach also responded to the president of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa, who had criticized his comments after the whistles received by the Nazionale. “ I respect La Russa’s words, but he certainly wasn’t at the stadium and didn’t even see it on TV. Because on TV too, we clearly heard that there were people who wished people dead, others who said they were coming to Coverciano… They weren’t whistles, I always accepted the whistles. These were much more serious things. » An outing which testifies to the tension surrounding this failed world qualifying campaign.
Gattuso prepares for play-offs despite hope
The transalpine coach also expressed his frustration with the qualification criteria which seem to favor other continents to the detriment of Europe. “I have a lot to say. We should talk about the League of Nations, but one day it would be right for the president to come and explain everything. » Gattuso confirmed that the March matches were unlikely to be moved despite requests from the Italian federation. “President Gabriele Gravina works a lot on this aspect, but miracles cannot be done by one person alone. »
Italy is therefore preparing to compete in the play-offs next March. This is the third time that this has happened for a nation used to shining on the world stage. This Thursday at San Siro, the Squadra will therefore play almost for honor against a Norway led by Erling Haaland and already assured of its direct qualification. “ We must not get carried away by enthusiasm and must be intelligent. This meeting also shows us at what level we are. But we also need intelligence: no expulsions, no stupidity. »
Italy will then face the play-offs. And no one knows how far this nightmare will go.
