Gattuso and the World Cup playoff: "The most important match of my career. I feel a country on my shoulders."

Three days of training camp, penalties practiced one by one, the words of Lippi that moved him. Rino Gattuso arrives on the eve of the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal against Northern Ireland with the clarity of someone who knows exactly what is at stake — and does not hide.

“I have a lot at stake, I’m young but I have a country on my shoulders,” says the coach, without looking for euphemisms. “I won’t deny that many times in these months I’ve been stopped in the street asking me to take Italy to the World Cup. I’m used to the pressure, but this is the most important match of my career.”

Seven months as head coach, and that pressure has never eased. He feels it from the first day, he says, and has learned to live with it by turning it into fuel rather than a burden. “I want to think positively, big, then tomorrow we’ll see.”

Inside the group, in the meantime, the atmosphere is just right. “There’s a good mood within the team, it’s been three beautiful days, with a great atmosphere. It’s normal: we know what we’re playing for tomorrow and it’s right to arrive charged and feel a bit of responsibility and tension.”

On the injury front, some question marks remain. Mancini, Politano, and Calafiori are not causing concern and are fully available. The situation is different for Alessandro Bastoni, who worked with the group yesterday at only thirty percent and will be evaluated again this evening. Scamacca is further behind, but both want to push through. “The desire of these guys is to make themselves available,” Gattuso emphasizes.

Tomorrow, in the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, it could be the penalty shootout that decides who goes to the final. The coach has not been caught unprepared: “Yesterday we practiced penalties, the whole team took three each. We got ahead of ourselves.” The designated penalty taker will be Retegui.

Tactically, Gattuso has no illusions about how Northern Ireland will present themselves: compact, organized, essential. “Tomorrow will be a match where our opponents will do very few things, but they will do those things well. We will need to be mentally strong, we will need to know how to suffer. Then when we have the ball we will try to put them in difficulty.” A warning directed especially at his players: it won’t be enough to use our heads, we will also need our legs.

To those who asked him if there is a Jannik Sinner in this National team — a symbol of the spirit of those who do not give up — Gattuso replied with an answer that serves as a program: «The team spirit. We have important players, but I would like to see his spirit throughout the National team».

Then there was genuine emotion for the words of Marcello Lippi — world champion in 2006 — who said he saw himself in the young coach. «His words moved me and I thank him», Gattuso said, with the simplicity of someone who is still amazed by where he has arrived.

Tomorrow evening it will be revealed if that journey continues.

Where to watch on TV and streaming

For the Italian audience, the semifinal Italy–Northern Ireland tomorrow evening will be broadcast live on Rai 1 and streaming on RaiPlay. Coverage from Sky Sport and NOW will provide additional insights, updates, and studio programs. For the playoff week, it is advisable to check the updated schedule between Rai, Sky, and their respective digital platforms on the eve of the matches.