Jun 19, 2025 04:20 PM IST Gattuso says Italy wants a distinct mentality to keep away from lacking one other World Cup ROME — Gennaro Gattuso is approaching his new job because the coach of an Italy squad in disaster with the identical dedication and combativeness he used to show on the sphere as a gritty midfielder. HT Image Replacing the fired Luciano Spalletti, with the four-time champion Azzurri in actual hazard of failing to qualify for a 3rd straight World Cup, Gattuso is aware of there’s no room for errors. “I know it’s not an easy job but nothing is easy in life,” Gattuso stated at his presentation Thursday. “There’s not much to say. There’s work to do. “I need to get inside the players’ heads. I hear often that we don’t have the talent or good enough players anymore. But I think we have the players. We just need to put the players in condition to succeed. We need to get Italy back to the World Cup. That’s fundamental.” Spalletti was fired after Italy misplaced its opening qualifier 3-0 at Norway. The Azzurri are already 9 factors behind Norway of their World Cup qualifying group — albeit having performed two matches fewer than the chief. Gattuso’s debut can be at house to Estonia on Sept. 5. Israel can be within the five-team Group I. Italy hosts Norway within the closing spherical on Nov. 16. Only the group winner advances on to subsequent yr’s match co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The runner-up enters playoff brackets to be performed subsequent March. That was the stage the place Italy was eradicated by Sweden and North Macedonia and dominated out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. But Italy’s struggles return additional, with the Azzurri having didn’t advance previous the group part on the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Gattuso, nonetheless, stays recognized as one of many essential catalysts of its run to the title in 2006. “He responded without any hesitation to our call and with the same enthusiasm as when he was called up as a player to the national team,” Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina stated. “And not simply enthusiasm. It’s really a lot more: great spirit of sacrifice, great professionalism and diligence. He told me right away that nobody wins alone, that you win as a squad and a group.” Gattuso stated he desires to set a brand new normal of dedication whereby even injured gamers stay on the nationwide staff’s coaching middle. “We have plenty of physical therapists and medical staff,” Gattuso stated. “If I had listened to my body, I would have played 50 fewer matches. We need to go beyond our limits.” Gattuso stated he had already made calls to 35 gamers, together with Federico Chiesa. Chiesa was a standout on the Italy staff that received the European Championship in 2021 however hasn’t performed a lot since leaving Juventus for Liverpool final yr. “I told Chiesa that he needs to find a way to play more regularly,” Gattuso stated. One participant who Gattuso didn’t name was 37-year-old defender Francesco Acerbi, who turned down his name up for the Norway match, the place he was anticipated to mark Erling Haaland. “I respect him,” Gattuso stated. “But I called other, younger players who I think can offer us something.” soccer: /hub/soccer This article was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content. Stay up to date with the most recent sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, the place Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the most recent match outcomes, and get the most recent on worldwide hockey tournaments and collection. Stay up to date with the most recent sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, the place Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the most recent match outcomes, and get the most recent on worldwide hockey tournaments and collection. See Less









