Gattuso confirms Italy pair to start in Moldova for 2026 World Cup qualifier | OneFootball

Gennaro Gattuso confirms that Gianluca Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori will start for Italy against Moldova tomorrow, but feels World Cup qualifying in Europe ‘needs to change.’

The penultimate match in Group I kicks off at the Stadionul Zimbru in Chisinau on Thursday at 19.45 GMT.

Even with a victory here and in the final game with Norway at San Siro, it is still practically certain the Azzurri will finish runners-up due to overall goal difference.

UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Players of Italy pose for a team photograph prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“There is absolutely nothing easy about any games, don’t forget the game in Reggio Emilia four months ago,” warned Italy coach Gattuso on Sky Sport Italia.

When these sides met in June, Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso got the goals in a 2-0 victory, which was Luciano Spalletti’s last on the bench.

“Many people have in their minds the fact that Norway beat Moldova 11-1, but these are not players who just ran away from home and found themselves on a pitch by accident. They have their own difficulties to deal with, but tomorrow will not be a walk in the park.”

Gattuso keeps Italy focus on Moldova first

ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: The Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso attends the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

With the showdown against Norway coming up and focus already shifting to the play-offs, the CT warns he is going to shake things up.

“There will be more than one change tomorrow, I want to see the improvement that I’ve been talking about for a while. There is nothing easy.”

Moise Kean and Nicolò Cambiaghi are among the players who pulled out due to injury, but Gattuso is not hiding his decisions.

“Scamacca and Raspadori will start in Moldova. Scamacca is lacking regular playing time and match fitness, so he mustn’t try to over-do it. We know what he can give and his characteristics, he just needs to relax and play his game.”

DORTMUND, GERMANY – JUNE 15: Gianluca Scamacca of Italy shoots which is saved by Thomas Strakosha of Albania during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Italy and Albania at Football Stadium Dortmund on June 15, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Italy know that because of that opening 3-0 defeat in Oslo and Norway’s incredible goal difference, they didn’t stand a chance of recovering to top the group and secure automatic World Cup qualification.

Could a win against Norway increase confidence or boost their regrets?

“There are no regrets. Winning helps us to win, so that is up to us now,” replied Gattuso.

“We do have a few issues over the criteria, because if we look at South America where six out of 10 teams go directly to the World Cup and the seventh head into a play-off with a team from Oceania, that does give you regrets. That is the disappointment, the system needs to change in Europe.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The Nazionale are therefore already looking ahead to the play-offs in March 2026, where they already stumbled in 2018 and 2022.

“I am honest, my mind is on tomorrow’s game and not beyond that. I want to see improvement, how the players train and work together.

“In my view, just having this get-together was not an easy task. We’ve already qualified for the play-offs, there are little aches and pains. I have to thank the likes of Barella, Calafiori and Bastoni for being here, as it was by no means to be taken for granted.

“I congratulate the lads for their professionalism and hunger, which they show every day,” concluded Gattuso.