Italy is reviving under captain Gattuso.

At first glance, the Italy-Estonia match doesn't seem particularly noteworthy in the European qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup on the morning of September 6th. However, it became a focal point because it was the first match coached by Gennaro Gattuso in charge of the national team, and Italy suffered a crushing 0-3 defeat against hosts Norway in their opening match in Group I.

A risky gamble.

That result led the Italian Football Federation to dismiss coach L. Spalletti and place their trust in Gattuso.

In reality, the former AC Milan midfielder is not a leading candidate for the Italian national team's hot seat, as the 47-year-old coach lacks experience, has not made a name for himself at club level, and has never managed a national team. Italy has won the World Cup four times but is currently plagued by a jinx, having been eliminated in the qualifying rounds in their last two World Cup finals (2018 and 2022).

Therefore, the decision to choose Gattuso and the former midfielder accepting the offer to lead the national team is seen as a gamble for both sides. It's worth remembering that, according to the format of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the European region, only the group winners qualify for the finals. The second-placed team has to compete in a play-off – a process where luck often determines the fate of an entire football nation, as Italy has experienced twice before!

Ý hồi sinh với thuyền trưởng GATTUSO- Ảnh 1. — Coach Gattuso has brought new life to the Italian national team, starting with a resounding 5-0 victory against Estonia (Photo: AP).

Italian football's recent decline is partly due to the fact that the quality of its players cannot match that of the other four top leagues in Europe: England, Spain, Germany, and France; as well as the lack of a top-class coach to lead the national team. Looking at the current loan roster of the Italian national team, only center-back Calafiori and midfielder Tonali are playing in England for Arsenal and Newcastle respectively, while goalkeeper Donnarumma has just moved to Manchester City.

However, top Italian football officials, including team manager G. Buffon, believe that the current national team's weakness and lack of dedication is a lack of fighting spirit. These are the qualities that helped Italy overcome crises and unexpectedly reach the finals of major tournaments and win titles – such as at the 2006 World Cup and most recently Euro 2020. Therefore, Gattuso – who won the most recent World Cup with Buffon – is a suitable choice due to his strong personality and character, both during his time at AC Milan and with the Italian national team.

In the early hours of September 6th, the sight of coach Gattuso and his staff singing the Italian national anthem before the match went viral. That image, along with the way the former "iron warrior" inspired the Italian players on the sidelines, spurred them to give their all. After several missed opportunities, the home team in Bergamo opened the scoring in the 58th minute, beginning their 5-star victory against Estonia.

Emphasize discipline.

Both the veteran players and the newcomers of the Italian national team appreciate the way new head coach Gattuso pushes and reminds them with timely "gentle punches" and pats on the back. This helps them wake up and focus more on completing their tasks.

During his playing career, Gattuso was a tenacious defensive midfielder known for his aggressive tackles. However, since transitioning to coaching, he has demonstrated tactical flexibility. For example, in a crucial match like the one on the morning of September 6th, where a win was essential, Gattuso deployed two central strikers alongside two wing forwards. The full-backs were also instructed to push forward, apply pressure, and combine with overlapping runs when in possession.

The 47-year-old coach believed he needed to take risks, accepting the possibility of being counter-attacked in one-on-one situations when losing possession. However, the players maintained tactical discipline, showed belief, and demonstrated a desire to win. That's what Italian football needs from its national team right now, especially when compared to its neighbor Germany – a team recently criticized by head coach Nagelsmann for their "lack of fire" in their shocking 0-2 defeat against Slovakia on the morning of September 5th.

Other notable results: France - Ukraine 2-0, Switzerland - Kosovo 4-0, Sweden - Slovenia 2-2, Greece - Belarus 5-1.

Italy had a promising start under coach Gattuso, but they currently sit third in Group I with only 6 points after 3 matches, trailing Norway and Israel by 6 and 3 points respectively. Italy needs to beat hosts Israel on neutral ground in Hungary early next week to move up to second place before even considering overtaking Haaland's Norway (who have won all 4 matches with a goal difference of +11).