Italy team trembles again before World Cup

Italy is losing itself.

There is nothing more painful than knowing that you have put yourself at risk, and Italian football once again touched that feeling. The defeat to Norway at San Siro in the early morning of November 17 was not only a technical slip, but also dragged the "Azzurri" back to the haunting path: the play-off round.

In the last two World Cups, this path has closed Italy’s doors to the biggest event on the planet. Now, under Gennaro Gattuso, it appears again, cold and unforgiving.

Italy entered the play-offs as the seeded team, but that did not ease the pressure. For the Azzurri, the problem was never the FIFA coefficient. It was the fragility of crucial moments, where once masters of Italian football, now seem incredibly fragile. From Sweden in 2017 to North Macedonia in 2022, those falls have become a dark shadow over the Gattuso generation trying to rebuild.

The draw in Zurich on 20 November will decide the journey to March 2026. Italy will play the semi-finals at home, a real advantage. But the advantage will only matter if the team enters the match with the composure and composure they have lost for so long.

Italy are back in the World Cup play-offs.

In the semi-finals, Italy's opponents are from the Nations League drop zone: Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland and, in some scenarios, Moldova if Wales fail to qualify. These are not too strong opponents, but they are very difficult teams in the knockout stages. They know how to survive with tenacity and fighting spirit, qualities that were once part of the "Azzurri" DNA.

Sweden may no longer have Zlatan Ibrahimovic or the golden generation, but they are still a well-organised, physically fit team that is not afraid to play hard. Romania are in a period of revival with a disciplined style of play, while Northern Ireland are always a team that makes opponents uncomfortable in one-off matches. For Italy at the moment, no opponent is really “easy”.

If they make it through to the semi-finals, the Azzurri will face a team from pot two or three: Slovakia, Scotland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina or North Macedonia, the team that stunned Europe by eliminating Italy in Palermo three years ago. Scotland are the most notable: if they do not qualify directly, they will fall into the play-offs as the top seed in this bracket. The Scottish spirit, combined with their fast and direct style of play, is something Italy will have to be wary of if they reach the final.

In that context, Gattuso understands his team needs more than promises. His playing ideas bring a certain stability, but Italy still lack sharpness in the moments when they need to finish.

The blue army has not yet achieved stability.

When they don't score, the Azzurri are easily confused and hesitant. When they need to defend proactively, they are too passive. What Italy lacks most at the moment is a strong enough backbone, from central defenders, playmakers to strikers. Many names have tried, but none have created the feeling of being "reliable".

Next March will be the most important test of Gattuso's tenure. It's not just about World Cup qualification. It's about whether he can recreate the fighting spirit of Italy that has made the Azzurri great for generations.

Italy used to be used to turning pressure into strength. Now, they have to learn that all over again. And for Gattuso, the play-offs are not only the only way, but also the last chance to prove that Italy is still a football nation that is not afraid of survival.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-italy-lai-run-ray-truoc-cua-world-cup-post1603347.html