25/03/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAR 25, 2026 30 I TALY coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semifinal against Northern Ireland on Thursday (Fri, 3.45am Malaysian time), urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures. With the spectre of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, Gattuso knows his players must over come the mental weakness that has plagued Italy’s World Cup ambitions. Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualifi cation failure, the Italians have managed only one victory at a World Cup, a 2-1 group-stage win over England 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time. “We must be able to make the players feel lighter,” Gattuso told reporters at Italy’s Coverciano training base yesterday. “Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups … but there is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros and played in Champions League finals. They are accustomed to these games. “There are no excuses; we must only think about Thursday’s game,” Gattuso said. “We must have the right mentality and serenity. We Ballard blow for Northern Ireland DAN BALLARD will miss Northern Ireland’s crucial World Cup playoff semifinal against Italy on Friday because of a hamstring injury. The Sunderland defender was forced off during his side’s Premier League defeat by Brighton on March 14 and missed Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle. It is unclear at this stage whether Ballard could be fit for a potential playoff final against Wales or Bosnia Herzegovina should Michael O’Neill’s side win in Bergamo. Defender Tom Atcheson, who plays under O’Neill at Blackburn Rovers, has been called up from the U-21s as his replacement. Northern Ireland are already without Liverpool defender Conor Bradley, although Ali McCann did link up with his international teammates when the squad met on Sunday evening and will train over night. Ballard, 26, was included in Northern Ireland’s squad when it was announced last week with O’Neill saying he “didn’t know the exact extent” of the injury. “I know every player will do everything possible to try and be fit and available to play this game,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI . “We just have to keep our fingers crossed for the players that didn’t play for their clubs at the week end [that] there is still enough time.” The absence of Ballard will be keenly felt in both boxes, as the 26-year-old has proved himself to be a commanding physical presence in his first season playing in the Premier League. He has notched five international goals in 33 caps too, and in a contest where Northern Ireland will aim to keep it tight and feed off any home nerves, the loss of such an aerial threat at set-pieces makes a difficult task that much harder. Still, O’Neill has the happy knack of fostering positive vibes within his young squad, and Preston midfielder McCann has been quick to stress the strength of the back-up options. “We’ve got capable replacements all over the pitch. We’ve got a really good squad throughout, and I think the depth that we’ve got is probably as good as it has been since I’ve been here,” McCann said. “We’re in these games for a reason and there’s no reason why we can’t go and get something from it. “Since the draw came out, I’ve been looking for ward to coming away here. I think playing in the World Cup is probably the pinnacle of any foot baller’s career.” In the previous World Cup campaign, the Azzurri were denied automatic qualification following a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland at Belfast’s Windsor Park in November 2021. That result consigned Italy to the playoffs back then too, where they lost to North Macedonia in the semifinals. McCann, 26, was involved that night, and believes he and his teammates can draw inspiration from a game that N. Ireland could have won. – Agencies

Gattuso calls for cool heads Italy coach prioritises mental issues over tactics as Azzurri face World Cup playoff

respect the opponents … but we must be clear headed and smell the danger.” Should they get past Northern Ireland they would face a final against Wales or Bosnia Herzegovina on April 1 to qualify for the show piece tournament in North America. Gattuso confirmed that Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa had left the camp. “He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was useless for him to stay here,” Gattuso said. “When I heard that he had prob lems and doubts, I had to make a decision. “He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s right to let him do it.” Chiesa, a back-up player at Liverpool, was a star of Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph but he has not played for his country since the dismal defence

stay together, and I have great confidence in the players I’ve called.” Bologna’s Nicolo Cambiaghi has been called up to replace Chiesa, while Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni and Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca are both trying to shake off knocks ahead of Friday’s match. Gattuso revealed he personally chose the 23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for the clash, admitting he feared the “caustic” atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early. “At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes,” Gattuso explained. “I want to create a real cauldron-like atmos phere. Thursday’s game is the only target. All the rest is the past.” – Reuters/Agencies FRENCH football legend Zinedine Zidane has reportedly agreed to become the next head coach of the national team, taking the reins after this years World Cup. According to ESPN , the 53-year-old is understood to have reached a verbal agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) to succeed Didier Deschamps, who has held the managerial position since 2012. Zidane, a revered figure in French foot ball, previously managed La Liga giants Real Madrid across two spells between 2016-18 and 2019-21. His eventual appointment to lead the national side has long been anticipated. As a player, the iconic midfielder enjoyed a glittering career, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1998 and being named Fifa World Player of the Year three times (1998, 2000, 2003). He was instrumental in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph and their run to the final in 2006, where he was famously sent off for headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi. That proved to be his final match of his playing career, but he has since gone on to have plenty of success on the touchline. In his first spell at Real Madrid, Zidane won the Champions League in three con secutive seasons, as he managed to get the best out of a team of superstars that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric. After walking away from the club in the summer of 2018, Zidane returned less than a year later to take charge once more. He guided Real Madrid to the Spanish title in 2019/20, but was unable to win the Champions League again. Zidane left Madrid again in 2021 and has been out of management for almost five years. However, he now appears to be edging closer to a return to the dugout, and will be aiming to prove he can flourish in interna tional management following his success in Madrid. – Reuters the schedule, but I think we need to be very careful with the players,” Koeman continued. “They come in with all kinds of complaints.” He said he was disappointed Norway had opted to rest Erling Haaland this week. “He is always a handful for our defenders and is the best striker in the Europe. But I understand why their coach has made the decision,” he added. The Dutch take on Norway on Friday in Amsterdam and then Ecuador next week in Eindhoven as they prepare for the World Cup where Koeman’s side will face Japan, Tunisia and a European playoff winner in the group stage. – Reuters

of their European title in 2024. Gattuso has opted not to include attackers Nicolo Zaniolo, Federico Bernardeschi and Riccardo Orsolini in his squad, though he does not feel that will affect the team. “I have tried since the first day to build rap port with the players. I know you’ll ask me about Zaniolo, Bernardeschi, and Orsolini, even if the latter was here recently,” he said. “But I tried to create a group, and I’m very satisfied with it. I hope with all my heart that we’ll reach this target. I believe this group deserves joy for what we’ve done in these months. “I’m aware that players like Zaniolo have done really well, but I made decisions in good faith. “I didn’t want to lose time explaining how to

Zidane to replace Deschamps as Les Bleus coach

New France coach Zinedine Zidane (left) and former coach Didier Deschamps.

Depay in doubt for Oranje World Cup warm-up matches NETHERLANDS forward Memphis Depay is unlikely to feature in their World Cup warm-up matches against Norway and Ecuador this week, coach Ronald Koeman said yesterday. The Dutch have already been forced into a late change with Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida called up to their squad in place of Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber, who is injured. scan on Monday, but the results are not yet known. “He can still travel over, but it doesn’t look good,” the national coach told a press confer ence yesterday. Depay joins an extended injury list for the Dutch with Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Emmanuel Emegha, Justin Kluivert and goal keeper Robin Roefs unavailable.

“We are getting used to it. We don’t know any different,” Koeman said of the injury situa tion. “They are dropping out in droves. Fingers crossed for the World Cup. “We have a number of training sessions on

The 32-year-old Depay, top scorer for his country with 55 goals, was forced off injured after 20 minutes playing on Sunday for his Brazilian club Corinthians against Flamengo. According to Koeman, Depay underwent a