Italy Coach Gattuso Demands 'Maximum Commitment' in Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

Can Gattuso lead Italy to World Cup Qualification?

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is urging his team to give it their all, demanding “maximum commitment” as they fight for a World Cup spot. The Azzurri's chances of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup are now dependent on other results, but Gattuso is focused on securing a strong finish.

“I want to see maximum commitment to continue what we started in September...”

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is urging his team to give their all as they fight for a World Cup spot. With two crucial matches ahead, Gattuso is emphasizing the need for “maximum commitment” from his players, knowing that Italy's qualification is no longer solely in their hands.

Italy is currently second in Group I, three points behind leaders Norway, and they'll need to win both of their remaining matches to stay in contention. Gattuso's side face Moldova on Thursday, followed by a home match against Norway on Sunday, and the pressure is mounting.

Italy is guaranteed to reach the playoffs as second in their group, but they're still pushing for direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup. To do so, they'll need to win their remaining two matches against Moldova and Norway, and hope to score a lot of goals in the process to overtake Norway's goal difference.

Italy failed to reach the last two World Cup tournaments, and coach Gianluca Mancini is under pressure to get them back on track. A win against Moldova on Friday, followed by a victory over Norway on November 17, would put them in a strong position, but they'll need a significant goal-scoring boost to pip Norway to the top spot.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso will be without Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, who is currently injured, and Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa, who has opted out of the November international break fixtures. Kean has been in excellent form, scoring six goals in his last four appearances for Italy, making his absence a significant blow.

Chiesa's decision not to play for Italy during the November break comes after he last played for the national team at the 2024 Euros. His absence, coupled with Kean's injury, presents a challenge for Gattuso as Italy looks to secure a World Cup spot.

“This won't be a simple outing; I want to see maximum commitment to continue what we started in September,” Gattuso told a pre-match press conference.

“Against Moldova, we'll try out players who haven't had much playing time, but we have to think about ourselves and not about what Norway will do,” he continued.

“The match against Moldova is the most important because the one against Norway is easier to prepare for.

“We know that this Norwegian team can cause us problems, with their speed, their physical presence, their exceptional style of football,” the former AC Milan and Napoli coach said.

Le parole del Ct Gennaro Gattuso in conferenza stampa 🎙️

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Gennaro Gattuso has revitalized Italy, racking up four consecutive wins with 16 goals scored since taking over from Luciano Spalletti. The former AC Milan star emphasized the need for “maximum commitment” from his team, stating, “This won't be a simple outing; I want to see maximum commitment to continue what we started in September.”

Gattuso also clarified that a planned training camp to prepare for the playoffs couldn't happen due to scheduling issues, saying, “The training camp initially considered to prepare for the playoffs at the end of March could not take place 'due to a lack of available slots in the schedule.”

“It's up to us to do our best by scouting players both in Italy and abroad,” he added.