5/09/2025

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FRIDAY | SEP T 5, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Ferrari hoping for Monza spark

Sinner swats aside Musetti

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Mountain to climb Gattuso begins Azzurri salvage operation with World Cup on the line

G ENNARO GATTUSO begins his reign as Italy coach tomorrow with the visit of Estonia (2.45am Malaysian time) and a contested fixture with Israel as he bids to stop the Azzurri from missing out on a third consecutive World Cup. Italy are at risk of not qualifying for next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico after a troubled start to their campaign in June which cost Luciano Spalletti – already under pressure from a dismal European title defence – his job. Gattuso, who was not first choice as coach and has a spotty record in club football management, has a mountain to climb ahead of his first match as national team coach in Bergamo. Italy are nine points behind Group I leaders Norway after their first two qualifiers, one of them a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Erling Haaland and company. Only top spot in the group gives automatic qualification to the World Cup and even though Italy have played two fewer games than Norway, their chances of finishing first look slim. As well as the significant points gap, Italy have a goal difference which is 12 worse than Norway, meaning that the playoffs, from which they failed to reach the last two tournaments, are the more realistic route for qualification. “I want to see a sense of belonging, the willingness to make sacrifices, and also acceptance of being told uncomfortable truths by teammates. W e cannot allow

Norway in June, which led to Spalletti’s dismissal. “I think the most important thing, which we lacked against Norway, is that we didn’t have the strength to react,” Donnarumma said. “You may concede a goal, that the stadium heats up, it’s normal, but we need to find that strength again, Italian strength, because we didn’t have it. “We’re working on that with Gattuso, finding awareness, and he’s making us all feel important. The goal is to form a group, get back to enjoying ourselves, and play with more freedom. “Without too much pressure – it should be there, but not too much, because then you’re missing something on the pitch. “Now with Gattuso we’re finding that again, and I’m sure and convinced we can do well and get back where we deserve to be.” To reach the playoffs Italy would need to finish second, a position currently occupied by Israel who have three points more having played an extra game. A political cloud has hung over Gattuso’s first week in charge due to Tuesday’s (2.45am) match with Israel in Debrecen, Hungary. Israel is under mounting pressure at home and abroad to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Last month the Italian Football Coaches Association (AIAC) sent a letter to the country’s football federation (FIGC) asking that Israel be suspended from international competition. “I am a man of peace and it hurts my heart to see civilians and children affected, it hurts my heart,” said Gattuso. “We and the FIGC are working diligently to find solutions and ensure a match in Udine which goes smoothly. “Our duty is to do our job, but I hope a peaceful solution be found... It’s something that hits you in the heart.”–AFP

“We need to be a team, to fight blow for blow... history shows that we’ve never lacked character, and we have to bring that back.” Italy captain

fear to enter our minds,” Gattuso told reporters yesterday. Gattuso was crowned a world champion with Italy in 2006, the last

World Cup in which the Azzurri lived up to their reputation as a hugely important football nation – group stage exits followed at the next two editions before failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 finals. “We have to be strong. We can’t panic if the score is still 0-0 after 10 minutes,” he added.

G i g i o Donnarumma said the Azzurri “didn’t have the strength to react” against

Gattuso. – REUTERSPIC

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