Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso hopes Serie A video games scheduled for the weekend earlier than the World Cup play-offs shall be moved to offer the Azzurri extra time to arrange for a semifinal in opposition to Northern Eire.
The Azzurri will face Northern Eire within the World Cup play-off semifinal on March 26. The sport shall be performed at residence, whereas the potential closing shall be away in opposition to the winner between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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There aren’t any extra worldwide breaks till March subsequent 12 months, which implies Gattuso could have little time to arrange for the match.
The Italian FA is hoping to discover a window in February for a get-together at Coverciano, however it would possibly show to be a tough activity as a result of packed fixture listing, domestically and throughout Europe.
Due to this fact, Gattuso talked about one other potential possibility that may assist him in preparations for such an important sport.
“I spoke to some colleagues, together with Montella. I’ve heard that in Turkey, they’ll in all probability cease the league for 3 days. Hopefully, we will make it too. Having the prospect to play in European competitors and maybe giving three further days to arrange,” the Italy
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“We should solely take into consideration the primary sport. Then Bosnia and Wales are completely different groups, with completely different taking part in kinds, two completely different environments, however the focus is on Northern Eire, so we’d take into consideration Bosnia and Wales,” Gattuso continued.
Gattuso: Italy solely give attention to Northern Eire
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy appears to be like on through the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photograph by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Pictures)
The Italy CT and insisted the Azzurri should put together for a troublesome sport.
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“Northern Eire are a bodily facet, they prefer to play on second balls, and certainly we’ll want a terrific sport, however certainly we will deal with it,” he added.
“Let’s take into consideration the primary sport. We all know what groups Wales and Bosnia are. Certainly the atmosphere in Wales is hard, they push arduous, as they like. Bosnia is identical, these stadiums could make anybody battle, however it’s ineffective to speak about it. We have now the semifinal, let’s advance after which we’ll see the opponent and find out how to face it.”
The semi-final in opposition to Northern Eire will seemingly be performed on the New Steadiness Enviornment in Bergamo, residence to Atalanta.
“Let’s see, we’ve got talked with the President. Bergamo got here out, let’s see if we’ll play there,” Gattuso confirmed.
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Italy suffered a 4-1 residence loss in opposition to Norway final week, and Gattuso is already planning to go to a few of his gamers within the coming months.
Gattuso on the place Italy should ‘change’
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, points directions through the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Pictures)
“I left the gamers alone lately, however in 4 or 5 days, once we get well from the unhealthy impression we made on Sunday at San Siro, we’ll begin once more,” he stated.
“The thought is to go go to those that play overseas, have a sizzling cup of tea or dinner with them, and hopefully, they’ll give us a date. I’ll meet and speak to those guys, not nearly soccer, but in addition about on a regular basis life. It might not be unhealthy to be in contact with the lads.
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“The sport the opposite night time was a disgrace, however I don’t know what it may have been with a distinct end result. Mentally, we’d have thought we had overcome all obstacles. On the identical time, it was a heavy defeat, the place all our fragility emerged, and we should enhance on this side. I maintain tight to the primary half; certainly we should work as a result of we will’t disappear from the pitch as we did. It’s not simply the gamers’ downside, but in addition mine and that of my workers. We should attempt to change on this side.”