"Gennaro Gattuso has a stated aim of making World Cup impact, not simply qualifying. There were long spells in this playoff when the coach's aspirations felt ludicrous."
"Italy laboured, especially in the first half, under expectation. Yet it is an undoubted truism that they will require a huge uplift in performance level to feature prominently in the summer."
"Had Northern Ireland snatched the opening goal here, Italy would have been in serious bother. Instead, the Italians are due credit for taking on board whatever half-time message Gattuso delivered."
"The absence from a third World Cup in succession was an unthinkable concept, and a loss to the team ranked 67th among international teams would be a serious blow to Italian footballing self-esteem."
Gennaro Gattuso's tenure with Italy aims to qualify for the World Cup, ending a drought since 2014. The playoff against Northern Ireland revealed Italy's need for improved performance. Despite initial struggles, Italy managed to adapt and secure a win. Gattuso's leadership, alongside Gianluigi Buffon, is pivotal as the team faces high expectations. Northern Ireland's young squad looks towards Euro 2028, indicating that this campaign was premature for them. The pressure on Gattuso was palpable, with the potential for a loss to significantly impact Italian football's morale.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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