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Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso waves his supporters at the end of the World Cup 2026 Group I qualifying soccer match between Italy and Israel at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Since he won the FIFA World Cup in 2006, Gattuso has endured watching his beloved Italy falter twice to even qualify for the World Cup.
Now as their coach, and once again precariously leaving qualification for the end, the Italy national team boss has jokingly vowed to “flee the country” and live far away if his side fail to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.
Italy did the needful against Israel and packed them off 3-0 but may still have to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup through the play-offs, as they currently sit second in their qualifying group. Mateo Retegui’s double and Gianluca Mancini gave Gutusso 4/4 wins, and left Israel without qualifying. But the swatting aside, Italy isn’t sitting pretty itself in securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, as they are second in the group behind Norway, who qualify automatically on a superior goal difference. Knockout play-offs await beloved Italy to book their place at the World Cup.
Gattuso lightly remarked that if Italy fail to qualify for the World Cup, he would run away from the country, saying, “I’ll take credit if I manage to achieve my goal (qualify for the World Cup) otherwise I’ll go and live far away from Italy. I’m already a bit far away, I’ll go even further.”
Gatusso lives in Marbella, Spain currently.
The formerWorld Cup winner was generally happy with his players, but said he would mix things up a tad. “Let’s see, I’ll definitely change a few things to see what level we’re at. Because everyone trains incredibly well, so I want to give some space to those who aren’t playing as well. There’ll be a lot of movement, and the same principle always applies: the doors to the national team are always open to those who do well.”
Italy’s littany of losses since 2006 includes: Knocked out in group stages in both the 2010 and 2014 editions, and failing to qualify for 2018 World Cup, crashing out in the play-off stage. 2022 was the pits as the Azzurri were eliminated in the play-offs, by North Macedonia.
What lies ahead? They face Moldova and Norway in November’s group-stage qualifiers. Italy will aim to win their remaining games and keep their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup alive.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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