From Udine to the World Cup Dream: Gattuso's Italy on the Brink with Retegui Shining

Match Report

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy's head coach, issued a surprising statement after his side's emphatic 3-0 win over Israel in the Euro 2026 qualifiers.

Italy dominated the match, with Matteo Retegui scoring a brace and Gianluca Mancini adding a late third in Udine, sealing a strong position for the Azzurri in the European playoff picture and keeping direct qualification within reach, though it remains a tall order.

Standings and Reflections

With two games left, Italy trailed Norway by three points, and Norway boasted a superior goal difference (plus 26 to Italy's plus 10). The Norwegian side, led by Erling Haaland, still looks favored for direct qualification, even if Italy can win the final round.

Gattuso, appointed after two qualifiers under Luciano Spalletti, has overseen four wins in four matches, with 16 goals scored. He warned he would step down if the 2026 World Cup dream were not realized, adding that personal credit would go to the federation, the players, and Buffon, and expressing gratitude for the support and the squad's efforts.

Retegui's Impact and Growth

Retegui made a striking impact, tallying five goals in four matches under Gattuso—better than his output under Spalletti (six in 17)—and becoming the top scorer for Italy under the current coach. He is also noted as the first Italian to score two or more goals in two different qualifiers in the same cycle since Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero in 2002, per Tuttomercatoweb.

The forward's international debut for Italy came in 2023 under Mancini, with goals in his first two caps against England and Malta. He later joined Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia for a reported 68 million euros, a testament to his rising stock. Retegui credited his form to listening to ideas from the coach and teammates and to the team’s resilience and collective work ethic.

“I’m very happy,” Retegui said, “we’re achieving something important here. We’re building a strong team, we’re scoring plenty of goals, and we kept a clean sheet.” He added that the group must stay humble, continue to improve, and keep the doors open to those who shine, emphasizing the collective effort behind the goals and defensive performances.

Gattuso also highlighted areas for improvement: the team sometimes appears nervous when conceding, and he stressed the need for steadier control under pressure. He praised the players' dedication to a demanding schedule and stressed that they must remain consistent going forward, keeping the flame alive for the national project. The coach reiterated that the squad would travel a lot but that the core principle remains: the national team's doors are open to those who excel.

Retegui’s form has coincided with a broader improvement in the Italian attack. The forward has proven his ability to deliver in international fixtures, strengthening the project under Gattuso as Italy fights to reach the World Cup finals in 2026. The focus now shifts to the final fixtures, where the odds are long but a playoff path remains viable.

Two punchlines to end on a lighter note: Gattuso’s plans are so sharp, even the corner flags file complaints for getting too close to the action. Retegui is turning nets into a permanent residence; the man can’t stop scoring, and the opponents are filing for eviction from their own goalmouths.