Italy boss Rino Gattuso has revealed that the World Cup playoff tie against Northern Ireland on Thursday will be the biggest match of his career.
The Azzurri failed to directly qualify for the tournament from the group stages of the qualifiers, finishing behind a rampant Norway and just ahead of Israel. They now face Israel in a one-off semi-final before taking on the winner of the tie involving Wales and Bosnia.
Gattuso spoke at the pre-game press conference and he was asked if it will be the most important game of his career.
He responded โ via Calciomercato: โIt will definitely be the most important match. I have a lot at stake, Iโm young, but I have a country on my back. I wonโt deny that in recent months Iโve been stopped in the street many times, asking me to lead Italy to the World Cup. Iโm used to the pressure, but itโs the most important match of my career.โ
He also cast doubts about the fitness of Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Scamacca but other players should be available for selection.
โBastoni has been working 30 percent with the team, and weโll try again tonight. Scamaccaa is further back. Theyโre the only ones to evaluate; the others are all fine, including Calafiori, Mancini, and Politano.โ
Gattuso was also asked to send a message to the Italians, who are desperate to finally qualify for a World Cup.
โItโs up to us. If we take to the field, even in the stadium, and give the impression of being on top of things, everything else will follow. We canโt ask anything of anyone; we are the architects of our own destiny. It takes great calm and the awareness that weโre playing against players with venom. They say we have no identity, but itโs right that they say so. We have to be ready.โ
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Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN
