Italy send home Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa ahead of crucial World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland | OneFootball

Italy’s national football team faces a pivotal moment as they battle to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup, with coach Gennaro Gattuso candidly admitting the immense pressure weighing on his squad.

The former midfield enforcer, known for his fiery playing style, acknowledged that "only someone without blood running through their veins" wouldn't feel the nerves ahead of their crucial play-off match against Northern Ireland on Thursday.

The Azzurri's recent history in World Cup qualifiers is a painful one, having been eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in the play-offs for the previous two tournaments. Now, they stand on the brink of another potential failure for the upcoming North American World Cup, following two defeats to Norway in qualifying.

To secure a spot, Italy must first overcome Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo, followed by an away fixture against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina next week. Failure would mean a staggering 16-year absence from football's most prestigious event.

Gattuso, who lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006, is resolute. "There are no alibis," he declared. "It’s useless to think if we could have done better. The only thing we should be thinking about is Thursday’s game.

open image in gallery

Gattuso said it was ‘useless’ for Chiesa to stay with the national team (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

“Forget that we’ve won four World Cups, two Euros and an Olympic title. For us, the only game is Thursday’s." He stressed that "All of the players that are here today know what we’re playing for and how important it is."

Adding a layer of controversy, Gattuso confirmed the decision to send talented winger Federico Chiesa back to Liverpool, despite his recent return to the national team after a nearly two-year absence.

"He had some minor (physical) issues and we decided that it was useless for him to stay," Gattuso explained.

This move raises eyebrows, particularly given Gattuso's earlier pledge upon taking over from Luciano Spalletti in June that injured players would remain with the squad to foster team spirit.

When questioned why other injured players like Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scamacca, and Alessandro Bastoni were retained, Gattuso offered a nuanced response: "Because not every player has the same frame of mind. When I hear that someone is wavering that’s when I know I need to make a choice. We decided it together. He felt he wasn’t up to it and he went home. I need to accept it."

Bologna winger Nicolò Cambiaghi has been called up as Chiesa's replacement. Chiesa has seen limited action since joining Liverpool two years ago, starting only one Premier League match this season.

Northern Ireland also faces its own injury challenges, with centre-back Daniel Ballard ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The Sunderland defender is one of the few with Premier League experience in the squad. Captain Conor Bradley, a Liverpool right-back, was already sidelined.

open image in gallery

Northern Ireland have been dealt their own injury blow, with Dan Ballard ruled out of Thursday’s match (PA)

Recognising the importance of cohesion, Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon embarked on a unique "dinner diplomacy" tour across Italy, London, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Unable to secure a training camp, these informal gatherings aimed to build team spirit. "There was no white board or markers," Gattuso revealed. "We didn’t go to talk about football or tactics. We were there to create team unity."

The choice of Bergamo's 23,500-seat stadium for the home leg was a deliberate one, according to Gattuso, designed to cultivate a more positive atmosphere.

He recalled the negative reception at the San Siro during Italy's loss to Norway in November, where "at the first errant pass you start hearing the whistles." In contrast, he noted, "when we played in Bergamo we got cheered at halftime when it was 0-0."

Reflecting on the Norway game, where Italy squandered a 1-0 halftime lead to lose 4-1, Gattuso emphasised mental resilience. "I really worked a lot over these months at dealing with adversity. One event shouldn’t change the dynamics of a match," he stated. "It depends on how you react and deal with it."

The football team's struggles contrast sharply with a string of recent successes for Italy in other sports, from the Winter Olympics to Formula 1, tennis, volleyball, and even baseball.

"These things go in cycles," Gattuso mused. "When I see us winning in other sports it gets me motivated. It makes me feel pride. Right now our history tells us that we’re struggling. But we’ve got a big chance here to reach our goal."

Should Italy navigate these treacherous playoffs, they would find themselves in Group B at the World Cup, alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.