Gennaro Gattuso, the charismatic coach of the Italian national team, does not hesitate to assert that for the Azzurri there is no distinction between Wales and Bosnia. With contagious confidence, Gattuso praises his “good friend” Edin Dzeko, as he prepares for the thrilling World Cup playoff, which will take place at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica next Tuesday at 7:45 PM UK time.
Italy, which recently secured a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo, will face a Bosnia team that reached this stage after a tense penalty shootout against Wales. The originality of the Italian team’s preparation was affected by adverse weather conditions, leading to a training session on Italian soil before finally heading to Zenica.
“Those who are in football live for moments like this,” Gattuso declared to Sky Sport Italia after inspecting the pitch. “I feel a palpable tension, and there’s nothing better than that. If you don’t feel it, then it’s better to hang up your boots or, as a coach, go home. We are aware of what is at stake, especially since Italy has not participated in the last two World Cups, but we need to keep that energy for the field and not waste it beforehand.”
The former national team player, who made history by winning the 2006 World Cup, now has the responsibility of bringing glory back to the nation as a coach. “I feel a great responsibility from the first day I took on the role, but I cannot think about what will happen, whether positive or negative. I need to look into the eyes of my players and give them confidence. It’s not just about offering something, but because I believe we can achieve this goal.”
The team, according to Gattuso, has evolved significantly in recent months. “We may not be particularly pretty, but that’s okay. Our history shows that with mentality, hunger, and the ability to endure, we can achieve incredible things in this shirt. We cannot give that up.”
Regarding the lineup that faced Northern Ireland, Gattuso does not plan to make changes, despite the pressure to include Francesco Pio Esposito and Marco Palestra at the expense of Mateo Retegui and Matteo Politano. “We knew there would be difficulties. I appreciate that Northern Ireland tried to play in a more elaborate way, because if they had opted for a direct game, we could have suffered more.”
About the clash with Bosnia, Gattuso highlights the qualities of the opponent: “They have two fast wingers and two strikers who move very well. We need to have courage with the ball, because Bosnia is a real team that knows what it wants.”
The Bosnian coach, Sergej Barbarez, hinted that his team could “park the bus” if they took the lead, but Gattuso is not falling for that trap. “I know that Sergej is a great poker player, so I don’t believe this is a team that wants to retreat. They have a lot of quality and respect for their opponents, and we need to do the same.”
Gattuso referred to a recent episode where Italian players celebrated Bosnia’s victory over Wales, suggesting they would prefer to face Bosnia. “Despite what happened, we know that the truth is there is no difference between Wales and Bosnia. This controversy arose, and Federico did well to comment on it, but it is true that this is a difficult game and we respect them.”
Dzeko himself, a football legend, expressed his fondness for Italy, where he spent many years playing. Gattuso emphasized the friendship he has developed with him. “I’ve made many mistakes in life, but when it comes to football, I rarely get it wrong. I spoke with Dzeko for two months last year when I was at Hajduk Split, and I wanted to sign him, but the club didn’t have the resources. The rapport we created is incredible; he is light-years ahead of many as a professional.”
Finally, Gattuso sent a clear message to Italian fans: “I saw that we had 10 million viewers when we played against Northern Ireland, and as I walked around Italy in recent months, I know it is up to us to provide them with that joy.” The anticipation for the clash against Bosnia is palpable, and the Azzurri are ready to fight for a place in the World Cup.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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