Gennaro Gattuso doesn’t mince words about a'Italy with two faces

Three points had to come and three points were won, but the 5-4 of the’Italy over Israel in Debrecen is a faithful mirror of a match full of twists and turns but also of big mistakes, especially in the defensive phase, by the Azzurri. Gennaro Gattuso, at the microphones of ‘Rai Sport’, did not spare even harsh words against the team, while highlighting some extenuating circumstances.

“We were a little bit surprised and in addition the leg, today, was not very bright – admitted the Italian coach -. At the second game can be there, but we have to improve: we were crazy not to defend two goals advantage, however, we managed to win and we hold on to the result. Behind something is wrong, we are too fragile: however, the problem is mine, not the boys”.

“I want to give credit to the team, it had the strength to react to all the difficulties on the pitch – added Gattuso -. I and my staff will work on the defensive phase, to avoid conceding the goals we conceded tonight. However, the will to react was fundamental, this I would say is the most important thing. It has been an incredible few days, now we must continue to grow”.

Italy has completed the four rounds of the first leg of the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, moving up to second place with 9 points in the standings, the same as Israel, which, however, played an extra game. At 12, in first place, is Norway: only the team with the first place at the end of the round will qualify directly for the World Cup, the second will instead play the playoffs.