Italy have everything they need to end World Cup exile, says Raspadori - Soccer News

"The Azzurri - four-time winners of FIFA's flagship international tournament - have not played at the World Cup since 2014, failing to qualify for Russia 2018 or Qatar 2022. Their last knockout match in the competition, meanwhile, was the 2006 final, when they overcame France on penalties to lift the trophy after Zinedine Zidane's infamous red card. And there is every chance they will be absent again on the 20-year anniversary of that success, having finished second in their UEFA qualification group."

""We have to go through the play-offs. We knew that, we know how important it is for us and for Italy as a country not to fail," Raspadori told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We're aware of how much it weighed on us, not making the last two World Cups. "The national team has some difficulties, but we've always performed well in adversity, and we want to do it again, this time to achieve a goal that we can't afford to miss.""

"After Luciano Spalletti was dismissed in June, Gennaro Gattuso became only the third Italy head coach to win his first five matches at the helm, after Edmondo Fabbri between 1962 and 1963 and Azeglio Vicini between 1986 and 1987. The Azzurri were then thumped 4-1 by Norway in their final match in Group I, but Raspadori - who was an unused substitute for that game - believes the former AC Milan midfielder is the right man for the job."

Italy faces a play-off route to the 2026 World Cup after finishing second in their UEFA qualifying group, starting with a semi-final against Northern Ireland and, if successful, a final versus Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. The national team has not appeared at the tournament since 2014, missing Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, with its last World Cup knockout victory in 2006. Giacomo Raspadori expressed confidence the squad can overcome recent difficulties and emphasized the importance of the upcoming play-offs. Gennaro Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti, won five straight matches early on, but the side lost 4-1 to Norway in the final group game.

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