Italy, Gattuso: "Our aim is the World Cup, we've missed out twice in a row" | OneFootball

Present in Cagliari for the ‘1st Riva Trophy’, the National Team coach remembered the legendary Gigi: “He was a great man, a genuine person, and a point of reference. We miss him so much.”

Italy, Gattuso: “Our goal is the World Cup, we’ve missed it twice in a row”

And about Italy: “We have a goal, it’s already been two times that we haven’t participated in the World Cup.” Buffon, head of the Azzurri delegation, also wanted to pay tribute to ‘Rombo di Tuono’: “He trusted us and would have thrown himself into the fire for us.”

Italy’s objective remains the World Cup. These are the words of Gennaro Gattuso, National Team coach, who spoke on the sidelines of the ‘1st Gigi Riva Trophy’ held in Cagliari between the Rossoblù and Saint-Etienne. And Rino wanted to remember the legendary ‘Rombo di Tuono’, former champion and historic team manager of the Azzurri: “Gigi was a point of reference, he didn’t like to talk much. The day after the final I kept him up until 3 a.m. He liked to smoke and that night I had a cigarette with him. With us, he was great, a genuine person. We miss him so much. Does the record for goals with the National Team (35 goals) still belong to Riva? I hope someone beats Gigi’s numbers, it would mean we’ve found someone who scores a lot of goals.” And on the path of ‘his’ Italy: “We have a goal: it’s already been two times that we haven’t participated in the World Cup.”

Buffon: “Riva would have thrown himself into the fire for us” Present at the Unipol Domus like Gattuso, the head of the National Team delegation Gianluigi Buffon also wanted to pay tribute to Riva: “In my role, I want to carry his memory and testimony. Gigi gave everything of himself to Cagliari and to the Sardinian people. The people of Cagliari should be proud of themselves: if Riva was able to express himself like that, it’s thanks to their love. It was mutual. Before leaving for the World Cup, to defend the National Team, Gigi would catch up on the news and do interviews in our defense. He trusted us and would have thrown himself into the fire for us.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.