World Cup Qualifier: Gennaro Gattuso Warns Italy of Israel's Quality
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso urges Italy to beware of Israel's threat in crucial World Cup qualifier. Don't underestimate Israel, Gattuso tells Italy ahead of the game.
“I hope (peace) will last forever. There is nothing worse than what we have seen in the last two years...”
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso warned his team to be cautious against Israel, saying they have the quality to cause problems. Gattuso made the comments ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Udine, Italy.
The two teams had a thrilling encounter last month, with Italy narrowly edging the match. Italy currently sits second in Group I with 12 points from five matches, three points ahead of Israel. Norway tops the group with 18 points from six games.
Gattuso will be without striker Moise Kean, who picked up an injury in the 3-1 win over Estonia, and defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is suspended. Despite these absences, Gattuso expressed confidence in his squad's depth and resilience.
The match will be played under tight security as a pro-Palestinian march is scheduled to take place in Udine's city centre on the same day. Organizers expect around 10,000 participants, although the demonstration will occur several kilometers from the stadium.
Norway currently tops the group with 18 points from six games, while Italy has 12 points but still has a match in hand. This gives Norway a three-point lead over their rivals. Israel, who has only one game left to play, trails behind Italy and is under pressure.
The team that wins the group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runner-up will advance to the playoffs. With this high stakes, Italy's upcoming match against Norway is crucial.
Gattuso acknowledged the challenge posed by Norway, stating, “They'll throw everything at it and will surely play on the front foot. From midfield up, with their quality, they can cause us problems.” This suggests that Italy will need to be well-prepared to counter Norway's attacking threat.
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso will be without two key players for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel: striker Moise Kean, who suffered an ankle injury in the match against Estonia, and defender Alessandro Bastoni, who is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.
After missing out on the last two World Cup tournaments, Italy is eager to make a comeback. The four-time world champions will face a tough challenge against Israel, but a win could help them secure a playoff spot and potentially even direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Luciano Spalletti, Gattuso's predecessor, praised the team's turnaround after their heavy defeat to Norway under his leadership. Spalletti expressed confidence that Gattuso would achieve his goals with the team.
Gattuso thanked Spalletti for his kind words but emphasized that World Cup qualification is still a long shot. He hasn't discussed potential playoffs with the players, focusing on the present moment. “The only sure thing is death; everything else has to be earned, you have to work for it,” Gattuso said, highlighting the team's determination to earn their spot.
The control 😮💨
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) October 13, 2025
Moise, the man you are 💥🫡pic.twitter.com/uCv2gqktR6#Kean #Azzurri
High Security Situation Ahead of Italy vs Israel World Cup Qualifier
A high-security operation is underway in Udine as Italy hosts Israel in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Despite the agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza, a pro-Palestinian march will proceed in the city centre. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso welcomed the ceasefire, saying, “I hope (peace) will last forever. There is nothing worse than what we have seen in the last two years.”
Organizers expect around 10,000 people to attend a pro-Palestinian march in Udine's city centre, which will take place several kilometres away from the stadium where Italy is set to face Israel in a World Cup qualifier.
The Italian football federation announced that over 9,000 tickets have been sold for the match, which promises to be a closely contested encounter between the two teams.
While many residents and shopkeepers in Udine are confident that the event will pass peacefully, others are concerned about the potential for violent elements to infiltrate the demonstration, as has happened in other parts of Italy in recent weeks.
“I haven't decided yet whether to stay open. I'm afraid they might cause some damage,” said Francesco Ursic, who runs a kitchenware shop.
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