Gattuso turns to ‘family’ ethos as Italy manager as he seeks to avoid a third straight failure to qualify for WC ’26.
Gennaro Gattuso seeks ‘family’ ethos in bid to avoid World Cup unthinkable.
When Gennaro Gattuso made his debut as manager of Italy, he stated everything that was expected of him. He discussed the necessity of reviving passion in an Azzurri team whose spirits have been damaged by recent defeats, as well as the feeling of unity that united him with colleagues in the 2006 World Cup winning squad.
“Family” was the word he used repeatedly, emphasising that it is more significant than tactics or structures. His image is one of a group that is close enough to confront each other with harsh realities rather than one of paternalistic rule.
“In moments of difficulty, when you feel alone and don’t hear the voice of your teammate, those are the 90 minutes that feel never-ending,” said Gattuso. “This is what we need to change. We need to help each other, we need to say those things that maybe you don’t want to hear, because that’s the only way you grow.”
There won’t be any material scarcity for them. The men’s squad from Italy is at its lowest point ever. A 3-0 thumping by Norway in their opening Group I match has put their hopes of making it to the tournament next summer in risk, since they have failed to qualify for successive World Cups.
Despite convincing them to give him one more game, Luciano Spalletti was fired as manager by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) as a result of the outcome. Although the pre-game conference when he effectively confirmed his own termination made for an unpleasant moment, the goal was to depart on a more positive note, which may have been accomplished in a 2-0 victory over Moldova.
Their strategy is further called into question by Gattuso’s appointment. Gabriele Gravina, the president of the FIGC, said on Thursday that they had made the initial approach to Claudio Ranieri. A man with a propensity for saving clubs in dire situations, just off one final miracle with his boyhood team, Roma, would have been a popular pick.
A narrative can always be told in a variety of ways. The 47-year-old Gattuso has failed to meet his teams’ goals time and time again. He has failed to qualify for the Champions League with Milan and Napoli, finished third in Croatia with Hajduk Split, and failed to even play a full season with Valencia and Marseille in between.
Or is he someone who has shown the bravery to travel to other nations and take on new challenges, continuing to develop and grow, as his former Italy teammate Gigi Buffon, who is leading the Azzurri’s delegation at Euro 2024 and appears to be assuming a more prominent role for the federation, argued on Thursday?
However, the prerequisites for this position are still the same as they have always been. Gattuso must defeat Estonia at home in September, beginning with his opening match. The family has had enough of losing. If he can’t stop it, he will soon hear harsh realities from more people than he might want to.