Gennaro Gattuso shared his initial thoughts after discovering Italy would face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final, emphasizing, “They have many experienced players; Wales presented a very different challenge.”
Following their 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland, the Azzurri had a lengthy wait. Their opponent was determined after Edin Dzeko equalized Wales’ opening goal in Cardiff, pushing the match into extra time.
The score remained 1-1 after 120 minutes, ultimately leading to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
The decisive World Cup play-off final will take place on Tuesday, March 31, at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica.
Gattuso Prepares Italy for Challenging Bosnia Encounter
During his press conference, Gattuso remarked, “It will be a passionate atmosphere, although a trip to Cardiff would have presented a similar scenario.”
“The Bosnian team boasts many experienced players, making them quite different from Wales,” Gattuso explained. “Bosnia defends compactly and relies on its strikers, so it will be another extremely challenging match, much like tonight’s game.”
Italy finally broke Northern Ireland’s defense in the 56th minute with a powerful strike from Sandro Tonali from the edge of the box. The Newcastle United midfielder then assisted Moise Kean for Italy’s second goal.
Was the pressure of being the favorites too much for the Azzurri?
Gattuso admitted, “Beyond the pressure, we made a tactical error in the first half with Locatelli playing too deep, which resulted in Mancini effectively acting as a full-back – a setup we hadn’t prepared for.”
“Our strategy was to draw their midfielders forward and create opportunities for our strikers,” he continued. “Instead, we repeatedly channeled the ball down the right flank for Politano to challenge his marker, and only occasionally to the left, which wasn’t sufficient.”
“Northern Ireland also surprised us; we anticipated a much more direct style of play, but they attempted to circulate the ball. After about 15-20 minutes, we recognized this and adjusted our movement accordingly. Our approach and tactics in the first half were not what we intended.”
Despite the palpable tension on the touchline, Gattuso assured reporters that he made an effort to restrain his typically fiery demeanor.
“If you observed, I maintained a very calm presence in the first half,” the coach continued. “However, I was also frustrated because, for extended periods, we deviated from our prepared game plan. I emphasized the need to push forward for our strikers rather than playing so deep. We performed significantly better after the restart, recognizing that these are matches where the tension and the stakes are keenly felt.”
“The choice to play in a smaller stadium here was also a smart one,” he added. “Believe me, if we had been in a larger venue with 70,000 spectators, a significant portion would have started booing at halftime. Instead, selecting Bergamo proved beneficial; the fans supported us and were crucial in preventing additional pressure on my players.”
Alessandro Bastoni had been a significant doubt due to an ankle injury and was the first player to be substituted shortly after receiving a yellow card.
“To be frank, Bastoni had been sidelined for almost three weeks, unable to train during that period,” Gattuso stated. “He received a booking, and I preferred not to take any further risks, but the other players are dependable. Only Scamacca has a minor knock, but he should also be available for the second game.”
“In different circumstances, Bastoni almost certainly wouldn’t have been risked from the start today,” he concluded. “Now, our priority is to recover as swiftly as possible and minimize any further issues.”
