Gennaro Gattuso offered his initial thoughts after Italy’s confirmation to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final. He cautioned, “Bosnia possess many experienced players; Wales presented a very different challenge.”
Following their 2-0 triumph against Northern Ireland, the Azzurri endured a period of anticipation. Their opponents were determined only after Edin Dzeko’s equalizer in Cardiff negated Wales’ opening goal, pushing the match into extra time.
The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 even after 120 minutes, ultimately necessitating a penalty shootout to decide the victor.
The decisive World Cup qualification match is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica.
Gattuso Prepares Italy for Bosnia Challenge
During his press conference, Gattuso remarked, “We anticipate a passionate atmosphere, though it would have been comparable had we played in Cardiff.”
“The Bosnian team boasts numerous seasoned players, making them distinct from Wales. Bosnia defends tightly and depends on their forwards, suggesting another extremely tough encounter, similar to our match tonight.”
Italy finally broke the deadlock in the 56th minute through a precise strike from Sandro Tonali outside the box. The Newcastle United midfielder then assisted Moise Kean for the second goal.
Was the pressure of being the favourites perhaps too overwhelming for the Azzurri?
Gattuso admitted, “Beyond the pressure, we made an error in the first half with Locatelli positioned too deep, which resulted in Mancini playing almost as a full-back, a setup entirely contrary to our preparations.”
“Our intention was to draw their midfielders higher up and exploit our strikers, but instead, we frequently channeled play down the right for Politano to challenge his marker, with occasional forays on the left, but not sufficiently.”
“Northern Ireland also caught us off guard; we anticipated a more direct playing style, but they attempted to circulate the ball. After about 15-20 minutes, we recognized this and adjusted our movement. Our initial mentality and tactics were not up to par in the first half.”
Despite the evident tension on the touchline, Gattuso affirmed his effort to temper his typically fiery demeanor.
The coach elaborated, “You might have observed my calmness in the first half. Yet, I also felt frustration because for extended periods, we deviated from our planned strategy. I emphasized the need to push for our strikers rather than retreat so deeply. Our performance significantly improved after the break. I understand that these matches inherently bring immense tension due to the high stakes.”
“Choosing this smaller stadium proved to be a shrewd decision. Had we played in a larger venue with 70,000 spectators, I’m confident that a significant portion would have begun jeering by halftime. Instead, selecting Bergamo was beneficial; the fans provided crucial support and were instrumental in alleviating pressure on my players.”
Alessandro Bastoni, who had been a significant doubt due to an ankle injury, was the first player to be substituted shortly after receiving a yellow card.
“To be frank, Bastoni had been sidelined for almost three weeks without training. Given his yellow card, I opted against taking further risks. However, the other players are dependable. Only Scamacca has a minor issue, but he’s expected to be available for the second match.”
“Under normal circumstances, Bastoni would almost certainly not have started today. Our priority now is to recover as swiftly as possible and minimize any further strain.”
