Buffon Confirms Temporary Italy Stay with Gattuso Until June

Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed that he and Gennaro Gattuso will remain with the Italy national team's staff until June. This interim period is intended to give the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sufficient time to find a new coaching setup following the Azzurri’s disappointing failure to qualify for the World Cup.

This commitment follows Italy's recent elimination from the World Cup play-offs. After securing a 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland in the semi-final, the Azzurri initially took the lead against Bosnia and Herzegovina with a goal from Moise Kean. However, Alessandro Bastoni’s red card proved to be a turning point, allowing Haris Tabakovic to equalize. Bosnia ultimately triumphed in the penalty shoot-out after extra time, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missing their spot-kicks.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina confirmed his request for Gattuso and Buffon to stay on, though Buffon himself acknowledged the fluidity of the situation. Speaking at a press conference, Buffon explained, “This is a delicate moment, and we need to take the necessary time to make the right evaluations. Clearly, the sporting season concludes in June, so until then, it is only right and fair for us to remain available to the Federation, the President, and all those who placed their trust in me.”

Italian football is currently facing a significant crisis, having now missed three consecutive World Cup tournaments, alongside struggles at club level. Despite the recent defeat, Buffon did highlight a positive aspect from the Bosnia match, noting an improved fighting spirit within the squad. However, he quickly tempered this optimism, stating, “If you realised something is changing and improving, then I am very happy, because that was one of the objectives we set, but clearly the most important objective was to go to the World Cup. This is something that truly hurts and means we run the risk of not thinking clearly, so I will stop there. We’ll be here until June, then we’ll see how the whole thing is tackled.”

The future beyond June remains uncertain, especially as FIGC President Gravina has indicated plans to call elections next week. A change in the leadership of the FIGC could potentially lead to further modifications in the management of the Italy national team.