Gattuso: I hear the voices saying ´take Italy to the World Cup´

Gennaro Gattuso says he hears the voices telling him to “take Italy to the World Cup” and insists he is prepared for the task ahead of his team.

This is the third consecutive World Cup qualifying campaign to see Italy feature in the play-offs, and they have not featured at the tournament since 2014, when they were knocked out in the group stage.

The Azzurri lost 1-0 on aggregate against Sweden ahead of the 2018 finals, while they were eliminated 1-0 by North Macedonia in the semi-final in 2022 in Palermo.

This time around, having finished behind Norway in Group I, Italy will face off against Northern Ireland in the semi-finals, with the winners of that tie facing Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.

Italy have lost two of their last five home World Cup qualifiers (W3), having been unbeaten in all 59 beforehand between 1934 and 2021.

They lost 4-1 to Norway last time at home, conceding as many goals that day as they had in their previous 13 home World Cup qualifiers combined.

And Gattuso is aware of the pressure on his side to make it to the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I’d be lying if I said when I put my head on the pillow at night, I didn’t hear the voices saying, ‘take us to the World Cup, take us to the World Cup, take us to the World Cup’,” smiled Gattuso in his press conference.

“I hear it, and I also hear that this is certainly the most important game of my career, even if I’ve been coaching for a few years now.

Bergamo #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/HOXa2E5OX0

— Italy (@Azzurri_En) March 25, 2026

“Having said that, I am prepared, and believe me, I am not thinking about what happens if things go badly. I want to think positive, to think big. Tomorrow we will certainly play our game, and then we’ll see.

“You need experience on the field, but we must be ready to suffer when Northern Ireland systematically pump the ball into the box. Remember that any free-kick will see their goalkeeper smack a long ball forward with eight or nine players showing incredible hunger fighting for the loose ball and rebound.”

Northern Ireland have lost their last six away competitive games against sides ranked inside the top 20.

The only previous time Northern Ireland have featured in a World Cup qualifying play-off tie was ahead of the 2018 World Cup, losing 1-0 on aggregate to Switzerland (0-1 home, 0-0 away).

And striker Josh Magennis says the magnitude of the match is not lost on Northern Ireland as they bid to reach their first World Cup in 40 years.

“When you have the opportunity to play and wear the green and white jersey, you take full advantage of it,” Magennis told BBC Sport NI.

“It is a night we are going to remember for the rest of our lives, whether we make it or not.

“We are doing our best to make it a good one, so when we look back, like in 2016, that we have fond memories together and not ifs, buts and maybes.”