Gattuso Cuts Chiesa As Italy Faces ‘No Alibis’ World Cup Playoff
#Italy #Gennaro Gattuso #Federico Chiesa #World Cup playoff #Northern Ireland #Azzurri #qualification #soccer
📌 Key Takeaways
- Italy faces a crucial World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland, needing wins to avoid missing a third consecutive tournament.
- Coach Gennaro Gattuso emphasizes positivity and focus, dismissing past successes and acknowledging team nervousness.
- Gattuso sent winger Federico Chiesa home due to minor physical issues, signaling a potential definitive break with the star player.
- Italy's recent playoff history includes eliminations by Sweden and North Macedonia, adding pressure to the current situation.
📖 Full Retelling
Itay coach Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged that only "someone without blood running through their veins" wouldn’t feel nervous as the team attempts to avoid failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Gattuso is still just as feisty and gritty as when he played on the Italy team that won the country’s fourth World Cup in 2006. Ahead of Thursday’s playoff match against Northern Ireland, he also suggested he sent home talented winger Federico Chiesa in what could amount to a definitive break with the standout player of the European Championship trophy run five years ago. "It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness," Gattuso said Monday. "Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it. But we need to do a good job of transmitting a lot of positivity." Positivity, however, is not what describes Italy’s performances in the playoffs for the previous two World Cups, when the Azzurri were eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively. Italy is in jeopardy at the same stage for the upcoming World Cup in North America after two losses to Norway in qualifying. The Azzurri need to beat Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo and then Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week to avoid going at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer’s biggest event. "There are no alibis," Gattuso said. "It’s useless to think if we could have done better. The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game. Forget that we’ve won four World Cups, two Euros and an Olympic title. For us, the only game is Thursday’s. "All of the players that are here today know what we’re playing for and how important it is." 'Useless' for Chiesa to stay Chiesa was sent back to Liverpool upon briefly rejoining the national team for the first time after an almost two-year absence. "He had some minor (phyisical) issues and we decided that it was useless for him to stay," Gattuso said. But then why are other injured players like Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scam
🏷️ Themes
World Cup Qualification, Team Management
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Original Source
Itay coach Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged that only "someone without blood running through their veins" wouldn’t feel nervous as the team attempts to avoid failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. Gattuso is still just as feisty and gritty as when he played on the Italy team that won the country’s fourth World Cup in 2006. Ahead of Thursday’s playoff match against Northern Ireland, he also suggested he sent home talented winger Federico Chiesa in what could amount to a definitive break with the standout player of the European Championship trophy run five years ago. "It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness," Gattuso said Monday. "Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it. But we need to do a good job of transmitting a lot of positivity." Positivity, however, is not what describes Italy’s performances in the playoffs for the previous two World Cups, when the Azzurri were eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively. Italy is in jeopardy at the same stage for the upcoming World Cup in North America after two losses to Norway in qualifying. The Azzurri need to beat Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo and then Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week to avoid going at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer’s biggest event. "There are no alibis," Gattuso said. "It’s useless to think if we could have done better. The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game. Forget that we’ve won four World Cups, two Euros and an Olympic title. For us, the only game is Thursday’s. "All of the players that are here today know what we’re playing for and how important it is." 'Useless' for Chiesa to stay Chiesa was sent back to Liverpool upon briefly rejoining the national team for the first time after an almost two-year absence. "He had some minor (phyisical) issues and we decided that it was useless for him to stay," Gattuso said. But then why are other injured players like Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scam
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