ITALY - Italy has a crucial match to determine their steps to the 2026 World Cup by facing Northern Ireland in the semi-final playoff, Friday, March 27, 2026 WIB early morning. Coach Gennaro Gattuso emphasized the mental aspect of the players rather than tactics in the match held at home at the Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo.
Players must forget the failures in the previous two World Cups. Yes, Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was a trauma for the players.
An irony because Italy was able to reach the quarterfinals at the 2016 European Cup but was unable to pass the qualifying round for Russia. The same goes for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Italy holds the status of European champion after winning the Euro 2020 trophy by defeating England in a penalty shootout drama at Wembley. However, the European champion crashed out in the qualifiers and failed to appear in Qatar.
A bad record from the Gli Azzurri who don't want to fail for the third time. However, they again had difficulties in the qualifying round and lost to Norway so they had to play a playoff to get a ticket to the final round held in three countries, the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This is what makes Italy face mental pressure when facing Northern Ireland in the semi-final of the playoffs. If they pass the hurdle of Conor Bradley et al, Italy will meet Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Italy, who are the favorites in the playoffs, are predicted to have no trouble passing Northern Ireland. Moreover, they are playing at home. However, Gattuso gave a condition that if the players can forget the trauma of failure in two World Cups, Italy has a chance to qualify. This makes Gattuso more focused on correcting the mentality of the players rather than tactical problems.
"We have to make sure the players are not burdened. Italy did not play in the last two World Cups, but that did not make the players lose their passion and spirit," Gattuso said as quoted by The Straight Times.
"I make sure the players will not be affected by the failure. Moreover, some of them have won the European Cup and appeared in the Champions League final. This makes them accustomed to crucial matches like this," said Gattuso, who led Italy to win the World Cup for the fourth time when he became champion in 2006.
"But there is no word of apology [if it fails]. We are fully focused on Thursday's match [local time]. We have to have the right mentality and stay calm. We have respect for the opponent. But we have to be alert and not ignore the danger," he said again.
In order to maintain the mentality of the players, Gattuso even chose to play in Bergamo with a smaller stadium capacity than San Siro in Milan or the Olimpico in the country's capital, Rome. Playing at the 23,000-capacity Gewiss Stadium, Gattuso admitted that he could be more focused than using San Siro which has a capacity of 60,000 spectators.
According to him, if playing in a stadium with a larger number of spectators, it is not impossible that the players will face pressure from their own supporters. Gattuso does not want to hear the jeers from a small number of supporters that make the players can be shaken.
"If you play in a stadium with a capacity of 60 thousand, the audience has already started to boo when the players have difficulties in the early minutes and they make a lot of wrong passes," he said.
"I want to create a passionate atmosphere because this match is the only target. The rest is only the past," said Gattuso.
In preparation for Northern Ireland, Gattuso chose to return winger Federico Chiesa to Liverpool. Chiesa's poor condition was a consideration for Gattuso to cross him. However, he retained Sandro Tonali and Riccardo Calafiori who are actually not fit.
Likewise, defender Alessandro Bastoni who is in the middle of recovery. The latest news is that the Inter Milan defender has recovered from returning to training. Bastoni is likely to play against Northern Ireland by sitting on the bench.
"The condition of each player is different. So is the content of their minds different," said Gattuso, giving a reason for why he sent Chiesa home but kept Calafiori, Tonali and Bastoni.
"As soon as I heard he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He was not ready for this match so he decided to go home. I accepted it. The condition and the last record of the player are very important. If he is not ready, I will not force it," he said.
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