Italy has been put in the hands of Gennaro Gattuso. The impetuous eccentrocampist, also impetuous as coach, He has been chosen by the Federation to take the reins of the National Team after Luciano Spalletti was dismissed on June 8.
The situation of the team has required an emergency surgical intervention. Participation in the World Cup is seriously threatened for the third consecutive time. A drama Italy said goodbye to the maximum football event in Brazil-2014, and in the group stage: he won England and lost with Costa Rica and Uruguay. It was not classified for Russia-2018 or Qatar-2022. The next 2026 is danger after forceful defeat suffered against Norway (3-0) in the second qualifying game, and that motivated Spalletti's dismissal. The first went out with triumph over Moldova (2-0).
Gennaro Gattuso, between Gianluigi Buffon, head of the Italian team, and Gabriele Gravina, president of the Federation, pose with the national team's shirt. / Fabrizio Corradetti / LaPresse / Lap
Six victories to pass
Israel and Estonia complete the group. Gattuso will debut on September 5 against Estonia. Italy will play six games, and you will have to win them all to get the direct pass to the contest that only the first of the group gets; The second would have to play a playful, a minor evil now.
Italy lives a nightmare but Gattuso lives “a dream come true,” he confessed this Thursday when he was presented in office. The selection is the highest level that a technician can aspire, unimaginable in the case of Rino, His nickname, lacking a history of sufficient merits to place himself in front of the Azzurra. If he got them as a footballer: he was world champion in 2006.
Gennaro Gattuso takes the Italian shirt at the end of his presentation. / Associated Press/LaPresse / LAP
The T -shirt weighs
“I am clear in my head what you have to do: reunite the enthusiasm and not think about negative,” prescribed cattuso, who did not know another method than “working a lot” and cultivating human relationships to raise the mood of internationals. “We have to create a family. Technique and tactics go to the background now. Italy's shirt weighs, but we must not be afraid.”
He doesn't have it. He never had it. “I hope to live up to the position. It is not easy, but in life there are few easy things,” said Gattuso, a 47 -year -old Calabrés, who is remembered for his fierceness in the countryside. “My figure as a player still weighs. I ran, he shouted … But as a coach I see it different. In fact, now a player like me, who armed so much jaleo … in my team would not play, “said smiling, before getting serious: “It is said that we have no talent, but I think we do, and I hope to prove it.”
“My figure as a player still weighs. I ran, I shouted … but as a coach I see him different
Gattuso had already got to work before the presentation act. I had talked to Spalletti In search of information and advice -“he is a teacher, chewing soccer for a long time and every year does new things,” he said- y With 35 players. “The doors of the national team are open for everyone,” he said.
Gianluigi Buffon, first, and Gennaro Gattuso, former partners of the Italian world champion team in 2006. / Associated Press/LaPresse / LAP
A Cup in 12 years
The goal is to take Italy to the World Cup. “It is essential for the country”, Gattuso acknowledged, in 13 years of career (Zion, Palermo, Ofi Crete, Pisa, Milan, Naples, Valencia, Olympique Marseille and Hajduk Split) has only conquered an Italian Cup (2020, with Milan).
Gianluigi Buffon, the Head of Delegation of the Italian National Team, wanted to highlight the ability of his former international partner to direct the team. “With Juventus we had difficulties against the teams trained by Gattuso, there was a lot of work on those teams,” argued the exporter.
