Moldova-Italy, Rino Gattuso hopes to have to use the abacus
Penultimate engagement for the national team in the round valid for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. As is well known, hopes of grabbing first place, currently in the hands of Norway, are slim but coach Rino Gattuso is focused on something else.
The Blue coach expects, against Moldova, a determined and convincing national team. The goal is to score as many goals as possible so as to show that the team is already focused on the likely playoffs in March.
In the end, the record is reassuring. The Azzurri have won all six matches played against the Moldovan national team, scoring a whopping 17 goals (conceding only two). The first leg, played in Reggio Emilia, ended “only” 2-0 for the national team, then led by Luciano Spalletti, now Juventus coach.
Rino Gattuso expects a lot from the attacking pair Scamacca-Raspadori. The first returns a starter in the Azzurri after a beauty of 17 months (also complicit in injuries). The second, now at Atletico Madrid, wants to do well with Italy to send a message to Colchoneros coach Diego Simeone. In short, everyone has more than one reason to take the field and give it their all. There’s a desire to win and convince, so as to arrive at Sunday night’s match with Norway at the San Siro with morale high and many goals behind them.
