Gattuso Dismisses Chiesa from Italy Squad Before World Cup Playoff

Gennaro Gattuso admitted the pressure is intense as Italy prepare for a World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland. The coach said nerves are natural ahead of the home match in Bergamo.

Chiesa sent home

Federico Chiesa was returned to Liverpool after rejoining the national squad briefly. Gattuso said the winger had minor physical problems and felt unfit to stay.

Bologna winger Nicolò Cambiaghi was called up as Chiesa’s replacement. Chiesa moved to Liverpool from Juventus two years ago and has started one Premier League match this season.

Squad selection and mindset

Gattuso stressed that injured players such as Sandro Tonali, Gianluca Scamacca, and Alessandro Bastoni remain with the group. He noted that not every player shares the same frame of mind.

The coach said he acts when he senses wavering commitment. He described the decision about Chiesa as a joint one, made with the player.

Opposition injuries

Northern Ireland lost center-back Daniel Ballard to a hamstring injury. Their captain, Conor Bradley, had already withdrawn injured.

The absences remove some Premier League experience from Northern Ireland’s lineup. The matchup will still pose a significant test for Italy.

Build-up and tactics

Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon did not hold a formal training camp. They instead traveled across Italy, and visited London, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to dine with players.

The aim was to strengthen team unity rather than rehearse tactics. Gattuso emphasized creating a positive atmosphere ahead of the playoff.

Venue choice and recent form

Italy will play in Bergamo’s 23,500-seat stadium to foster a better crowd atmosphere. Gattuso cited the San Siro as a place where whistles hurt team morale.

He recalled the November loss to Norway, when Italy led 1-0 at halftime. Norway scored four second-half goals, including two by Erling Haaland.

What is at stake

Italy must beat Northern Ireland at home and then face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away. Success is needed to avoid missing a third straight World Cup.

Failure would extend a long absence from the tournament and deny fans a return to soccer’s biggest stage. If Italy qualifies, it would be placed into Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Coach’s outlook

Gattuso urged players to focus on the upcoming match and not past achievements. He said there are no excuses and the only game that matters is the next one.

He pointed to recent Italian success in other sports as motivation. The coach said he has worked on resilience and dealing with adversity.

Filmogaz.com reporting. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.