Gattuso Stands Up for Donnarumma as Italy Rally Through Tallinn: A Roadmap to Euro 2026 Playoffs

What happened in Tallinn

Gennaro Gattuso, head coach of the Italy national team, stressed that the priority remains creating chances as Italy secured a 3-1 victory over Estonia in Tallinn, part of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The match began decisively with Moise Kean opening the scoring after just five minutes, but he soon left the field with an ankle issue. Matteo Retegui had a mixed night, missing a penalty before replying with a goal from a pass by Riccardo Orsolini, while Biagio Esposito marked his first Italy goal in what was an eventful evening for the attackers.

Donnarummas’s moment of misfortune came when a cross slipped from his grasp, allowing Rauno Sappinen to grab a late consolation for Estonia. Still, the Azurri steadied the ship and pressed for more, keeping the result in their hands as they pushed for a decisive win.

The moment, the quotes, and the record

After the match, Gattuso offered a pragmatic, upbeat assessment: “The important thing is to create opportunities. We may miss penalties at times, but the key is to keep trying. We must sustain this tempo and recover energy, because history shows we often struggle in the second game. There is a lot at stake, and if we win the next match, we will eliminate one of our direct rivals and feel calmer as we prepare for the playoff.”

In addition to the on-field concerns, Moise Kean’s ankle injury casts a shadow over his next appearance, with the coach noting, “We’ll see, the ankle is swollen and we hope it isn’t serious, because we need every player. At least Biagio Esposito scored a significant goal.”

New coaching milestone - Since 1949, no Italy coach had managed to deliver three goals in their first three games while also recording three consecutive wins. Gattuso now joins the country’s legendary mentors in achieving this rare feat, complementing his own World Cup-winning exploits as a player in 2006.

The former Milan midfield enforcer began his coaching career after retiring in 2013, taking his first steps with Seon, then Palermo and Pisa, before an influential stint with Milan (2017-2019) and later chapters at Napoli and Valencia. His approach remains rooted in discipline and a combative, team-first ethos, which Italy hope can carry them through the rest of the qualifying campaign.

Looking ahead: formation changes and playoff targets

With Bastoni suspended after a yellow card against Estonia, it is unlikely that Italy will opt for three at the back in the next fixture, particularly with Alessandro Buongiorno sidelined due to injury. The defensive options would likely include Matteo Gabbia of Milan and Gianluca Mancini of Roma, with other players considered for cover depending on fitness and tactical needs. A change in system could be on the cards, but the emphasis remains on resting some players while ensuring recovery goes smoothly before the next assignment.

Bianco Esposito’s form offers some positive momentum up front, and there is a real possibility that he will pair with Esposito to form a potent strike duo in the upcoming match against the playoffs rivals. The likely playoff opponents remain Sweden and Moldova, with Italy currently second in Group Nine, six points behind Norway, who hold an advantage with a game in hand. Norway’s striking goal difference (+26) dwarfs Italy’s (+7), making the task of catching up a tall order if results do not go their way.

Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio suggested the most plausible foes in the European playoff are Sweden and Moldova (roughly 19%), followed by North Macedonia (17%), Northern Ireland (13%), Romania (13%), San Marino (8%), Wales (7%), and even Germany (3%) as possible, should the scenario unfold in the later rounds. The path to the playoff is uncertain, but the mood in the camp remains resolute: build on the momentum, manage the squad carefully, and trust that the hard work will bear fruit in the final push toward the World Cup berth.

As the campaign moves forward, Italy’s focus will be on keeping the rhythm, managing injuries, and maximizing the squad’s collective resilience. The watchers will also keep an eye on how well the defense holds up without Bastoni, and whether a flexible formation can unlock more chances for Retegui, Esposito, and the rest of the attacking corps.

Punchline time: If football is a chess match, then Italy just sacrificed a pawn to win the endgame. Punchline two: Gattuso’s strategy is so disciplined that even a calendar would get a red card just for showing up late to training. And if all else fails, there’s always the mercato—the transfer window’s equivalent of spiking the punch at a party, except this time it’s legal and you still get to celebrate a win.