Gattuso Says Italy Can Still Make the World Cup: ‘I’m Convinced’
Italy may be nine points behind group leaders Norway and at serious risk of missing yet another World Cup, but new boss Gennaro Gattuso isn’t throwing in the towel just yet.
“I’m not hoping. I’m convinced,” the 2006 World Cup winner said when asked about Italy’s chances of making it to the 2026 tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
“There’s a lot of work to do, but we have the quality to make it to the World Cup.”
Despite a rocky start, a goal difference nightmare and the looming threat of the play-offs (which Italy flopped in twice already), Gattuso believes the Azzurri still have enough talent to pull it off.
“We have four or five players who are among the top 10 in the world in their position,” he added. “But it’s not about individuals. It’s about building a team and a strong mentality. That’s the priority.”
Gattuso was not the federation’s first pick. Claudio Ranieri reportedly turned down the job. But he’s got the backing of Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon, now head of delegation.
“Every time I faced his teams, I could tell there was serious work behind them,” Buffon said.
Gattuso will take charge of his first matches in September, with Italy hosting Estonia before facing Israel in Hungary.
Can he turn it around?