Gennaro Gattuso explains Sandro Tonali absence and his massive importance for Italy | OneFootball

Gennaro Gattuso has been talking about Sandro Tonali ahead of the final match for Italy in World Cup group qualifying.

Embarrassingly, much of the media made the Italy manager’s comments into clickbait headlines.

In an attempt to make you believe that Sandro Tonali was injured.

The headlines combining Gattuso’s comments on the absences of both Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and the Newcastle United star.

The truth is, the duo are missing tonight’s match between Italy and Norway at the San Siro for very different reasons.

Gennaro Gattuso confirming that injury/lack of fitness will prevent the Arsenal star from playing.

However, as the Italy boss had already indicated was likely to be the case, Sandro Tonali protected from the possibility of getting another booking tonight, which would see him suspended when the play-offs to get to next summer’s World Cup finals come round in March 2026.

Italy would need to win by nine goals tonight to automatically qualify above Norway.

So Gattuso dealing with the reality.

Interesting as well that the team boss has also at the same time made quite clear how exceptionally important Sandro Tonali is, as Gennaro Gattuso has stated he is going to start one or more other players against Norway who are also one yellow card away from picking up a suspension.

The Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso talking on Saturday ahead of tonight’s Norway match – 15 November 2025:

“Calafiori’s out, he was trying yesterday.

“Tonali is also out, he doesn’t have any physical issues, but we won’t risk him given his booking. He will train today and he will be at the stadium tomorrow, as well as Calafiori. Both will attend the match.

“Our future is to try and get to the World Cup.

“We are talking about how to stay close to our players.

“We are organising how to get together in February [ahead of the World Cup play-offs in March], to have 48 hours together, to go and visit them. We’re arranging that, and to go and watch all the games using all of our resources.

“We have to be very intelligent [against Norway] and not get caught up in the emotions.

“Tomorrow’s game is one that will help us understand what level we’re at, and where the bar is. But we need to be intelligent, too. We can’t take any sendings off, we can’t have any foolishness.”

Gennaro Gattuso was also asked if Gianluca Mancini and Davide Frattesi will be left out of the team as well, like Sandro Tonali, given that they are also at risk of suspension for the World Cup play-offs.

“Mancini took a yellow and gritted his teeth. We’ll see, either him or Buongiorno [will play]. Frattesi will play tomorrow. He has completely different characteristics and will start from the first minute.”

My thoughts

Great to see final confirmation that Sandro Tonali will have a shift off tonight.

It won’t do any harm with Newcastle United having a massive game against Man City on Saturday.

Also nice to hear what we know already, just what a brilliant player the midfielder is, how important Gattuso rates him.