Online Reporter
GENNARO GATTUSO begins his reign as Italy coach today with the visit of Estonia and a contested fixture with Israel, as he bids to stop the Azzurri from missing out on a third consecutive World Cup football finals.
Italy are at risk of not qualifying for next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico after a troubled start to their campaign in June which cost Luciano Spalletti – already under pressure from a dismal European title defence – his job.
Gattuso, who was not first choice as coach and has a spotty record in club football management, has a mountain to climb ahead of his first match as national team coach in Bergamo.
Italy are nine points behind Group I leaders Norway after their first two qualifiers, one of them a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Erling Haaland and company.
Only top spot in the group gives automatic qualification to the World Cup and even though Italy have played two fewer games than Norway, their chances of finishing first look slim.
As well as the significant points gap Italy have a goal difference, which is 12 worse than Norway, meaning that the play-offs, from which they failed to reach the last two tournaments, are the more realistic route for qualification.
“I want to see a sense of belonging, the willingness to make sacrifices and also acceptance of being told uncomfortable truths by teammates. We cannot allow fear to enter our minds,” Gattuso told reporters on Monday.
Gattuso was crowned a world champion with Italy in 2006, the last World Cup in which the Azzurri lived up to their reputation as a hugely important football nation – group-stage exits followed at the next two editions before failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 finals.
To reach the play-offs Italy would need to finish second, a position currently occupied by Israel who have three points more having played an extra game. – AFP Sport
