World Cup 2026 playoffs, Gattuso blunt about'Northern Ireland and the internship. Then cuts short on Chiesa

Italian national team coach Gennaro Gattuso is not hiding behind a finger after the 2026 World Cup playoff draw that pitted the Azzurri against’Northern Ireland: “It&#8217s a team that is definitely within our reach, we play them in a dry game. It’s a very strong team physically and never gives up, they play a lot on second balls but we can play it”.

“Stage before the game? It&#8217s not for me to decide, we have a president– continued Gattuso -I&#8217m a coach. Of course the more days we have the better. Now it is the 12th day, we will meet again in the 30th: from my side I have to think how to be in contact with the players, talk to them and not only about soccer and look them in the eyes”.

Message to Federico Chiesa: “I call him at every convocation, the problem is his, we don’t have it”.

In case of passing the round, Italy will face the winner of the challenge between Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina in an away match.