Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is set to maintain Mateo Retegui in his starting lineup for the crucial World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a decision strongly supported by the striker’s significant playing time under his leadership. The final match is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31.
Reports from various Italian sources indicate that Gattuso will stick with the same eleven players who secured a 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland in the semi-finals last week. This means Retegui will once again lead the attack alongside Moise Kean.
Despite some criticism for a missed opportunity in the second half of the Northern Ireland game, moments before Sandro Tonali opened the scoring, Retegui’s overall performance metrics under Gattuso highlight his indispensable value. While Francesco Pio Esposito made a notable impact as a substitute, suggesting he could challenge for a starting position, Retegui’s consistent presence has been unwavering.
Since Gattuso took charge of the Azzurri in September, Mateo Retegui has amassed the most minutes on the field among all Italy outfield players. He has played a remarkable 525 minutes for the national team, double the playing time of Moise Kean. During these seven appearances under Gattuso, the former Atalanta and Genoa forward has been prolific, scoring five goals and assisting four others.
Francesco Pio Esposito, who debuted for Italy’s senior squad under Gattuso in September, has made six appearances, including two starts, and contributed three goals. However, Retegui’s established role and statistical output firmly cement his place as Gattuso’s preferred choice for the highly anticipated World Cup play-off final.
