Gattuso: Football Has Changed, We Won’t Underestimate Any Opponent

Gattuso’s Caution: No Opponent to Be Underestimated

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s national team coach, warned that the fear of catastrophe must not tempt them into underestimating any potential playoff opponent as they push toward World Cup 2026 qualification in Europe.

Italy swept Israel 3-0 on Tuesday in Udine, with Matteo Retegi scoring twice and Giancarlo Mancini adding the third. The result guarantees at least a European playoff appearance, though direct qualification remains in doubt.

With two fixtures left, Italy sit three points behind group leader Norway, whose goal difference stands at a commanding +26 compared with Italy’s +10, making a direct ticket to the finals a tall order even if Norway falters in the final game.

The Italians fear a repeat of the last two World Cups, when they failed to reach the finals via the playoff route, and Gazzo told Rai Sport: “We played well; we controlled the match, though the opponents created chances. Donnarumma made crucial saves, and the spirit was high.”

“Locatelli had a fantastic game; the attackers faced some difficulties, but they played the way we needed. We were afraid of losing this match, so I feel we delivered a good performance,” he added.

Italy have now scored at least three goals in all four of Gazzo’s matches in charge. “There are few teams in the world capable of dominating matches now; we must handle pressure and learn how to press with increasing intensity. Once we possess the ball, we have quality,” he said. “Most importantly we must maintain the pressure gradually.”

“We hope not to lose more players to injury; we will meet again in November, and we will give some new players a chance to shine. We want a cohesive team that works on and off the pitch,” Gazzo continued.

The specter of disaster!

Gattuso warned that football has changed: “You can lose to any side these days; we cannot underestimate any team… especially after what we’ve been through.”

He added: “We come from years when we could not underestimate anyone; we owe respect to everyone, and we are the team that must perform as required.”

Before Tuesday’s match, a large pro-Palestinian rally in Udine turned chaotic, with around 10,000 protesters and clashes with police as the game approached. Water cannons and tear gas were deployed against groups amid last week’s tense buildup for a game that meant more than three points for many.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement signed earlier did not quell calls for a sports boycott of Israel following a two-year military operation that killed more than 67,869 Palestinians.

Only about 10,000 fans attended the match, with roughly 100 Israeli supporters present. Gazzo said after the game: “Today was not easy for us or for you. We knew the atmosphere would not be festive.”

“I hope things are calmer in the future. I believe so. I don’t know what other problems might arise,” he concluded.

What has Italy done in the qualifiers?

Italy sit second in Group 9 with 15 points from six games, three behind leaders Norway. The campaign began with a humiliating 3-0 loss to Norway, which led to the firing of coach Luciano Spalletti, who left after a second game in which they beat Moldova 2-0.

Since Gazzo’s appointment, results have improved: a 5-0 win over Estonia, a 5-4 thriller over Israel, followed by a 3-1 win over Estonia and a 3-0 win over Israel. Italy now has four wins from four matches, with 18 goals scored and eight conceded in the qualifiers overall.

Record and playoff opponents

Gattuso becomes the first coach to guide Italy to at least three goals in his first three matches, and with Norway ahead on goal difference, direct qualification remains unlikely.

Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio notes the most likely playoff opponents for the Azzurri are Sweden and Moldova (19%), followed by North Macedonia (17%), Northern Ireland (13%), Romania (13%), San Marino (8%), Wales (7%), and Germany (3%).

So the road to the finals remains open but complex, with a playoff route likely to feature a mix of familiar and unexpected foes. The coming fixtures will determine whether Italy can bridge the gap to direct qualification or rely on the playoff route to reach the World Cup stage.

Punchline 1: If football were a sniper range, Gazzo’s shots would be center-mass—calm, precise, and occasionally loud.

Punchline 2: And if you underestimate any opponent, remember: even a cautious coach can turn you into a headline with just one well-timed pass.