Italian manager Gennaro Gattuso has warned his players not to underestimate Northern Ireland as he prepares for the biggest game of his career.
After failing to qualify for the last two World Cups, the four-time world champions can hardly imagine losing against Michael O'Neill's team in the qualifiers in Bergamo on Thursday, Friday, March 27, 2026, early morning WIB.
Gattuso, a World Cup winner as a player in 2006, was brought in by Italy in June 2025 after a poor start in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifying round. At that time, the Azzurri failed to qualify automatically for finishing in second place in the standings, behind Norway.
The pressure on Italy to deliver through this second round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers - with the winner of the match going through to face Wales vs Bosnia0-Herzegovina - is now huge.
"I would be lying if I said that when I lay my head on the pillow at night, I don't hear voices saying 'take us to the World Cup, take us to the World Cup, take us to the World Cup'."
"I heard it. This is certainly the most important match in my career even though I have been coaching for several years."
"Nevertheless, I am ready, and believe me I am not thinking about things that will go badly. I want to think positively, think big."
"Tomorrow we will play our game. Then we'll just see," Gattuso said, as reported by ESPN.
Gattuso has a squad full of experienced players at the highest level, but Northern Ireland have a clear threat because they are motivated and hungry even though they will lose two English League talents, Conor Bradley and Dan Ballard.
O'Neill's young side have evolved in their style of play, but Gattuso said he still sees opponents as primarily a team that kicks the ball far and fights for the second ball - such comments were controversial when German coach Julian Nagelsmann said it during the 2026 World Cup qualifying Group A campaign last year.
Gattuso insists he did not mean to disrespect with his analysis.
"We have to be ready to suffer when Northern Ireland systematically sends the ball into the penalty area. Remember that every free kick will make their goalkeeper kick the ball far forward with eight or nine players showing an incredible hunger to compete for loose balls and rebounds."
"The players know what they need to do, to sniff out danger, believe in every ball. We also have to be alert to dead balls."
"I'm not saying long balls are the only way they play, but it's their main characteristic. They do it very well," said Gattuso.
Gattuso revealed earlier this week that over the past few months he has traveled all over Italy and several times abroad for dinner with his players and to keep the team's spirits up.
One of those trips was to Saudi Arabia, where Italy's main striker, Mateo Retegui, played under Brendan Rodgers with Al Qadsiah.
Retegui spoke highly of the Northern Irishman, who has won 14 games and drawn three since taking over in December 2025.
"I have a great relationship with Brendan. I only have good things to say about him. He wishes me the best, but we talk about other things (besides this game)."
"He is an incredible man, he is a top coach, and he has proven it at all the clubs he has worked at in the past," Retegui said.
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