Italy's Gattuso starts tenure with World Cup dreams hanging in balance
In the world of international football, Italy finds itself in a challenging position as the new coach, Gennaro Gattuso, prepares to take the helm. The team's troubled start in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is further complicated by a political cloud surrounding their upcoming matches, particularly against Israel.
The match scheduled in Debrecen, Hungary, has stirred controversy due to Israel's recent offensive in the Gaza Strip. This has led the Italian Football Coaches Association (AIAC) to send a letter to the country's football federation (FIGC), urging for Israel's suspension from international competition.
This is not the first time Italy and Israel have met under such circumstances. Last October, a match in Udine was met with a huge security operation and pre-match protests from activists. The situation is expected to be similar this year, given the ongoing political tension.
Italy currently finds itself nine points behind Group I leaders Norway after their first two qualifiers. The team needs to finish second to reach the play-offs, a position currently held by Israel. However, Italy's goal difference is 12 worse than Norway, making the play-offs a more realistic route for qualification.
Gattuso, a man of peace, has expressed concern about the situation in Gaza, stating, "We and the FIGC are working diligently to find solutions and ensure a match in Udine which goes smoothly." He also expressed a desire to see a sense of belonging, willingness to make sacrifices, and acceptance of uncomfortable truths among the team.
The first match of Gattuso's tenure will be against Estonia and Israel. The team will need to perform well to keep their World Cup dreams alive. It's a challenging task ahead for Gattuso, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, the last time Italy lived up to their reputation as a significant football nation.
Meanwhile, Italy's World Cup fate is not the only topic of discussion. Thousands of protesters marched to the gates of the Venice Film Festival, shouting "Stop the genocide!", calling for a denouncement of Israel's actions. An unheeded open letter signed by around 2,000 cinema insiders also urged festival organizers to take a stand.
Despite these challenges, the organization responsible for hosting the World Cup games in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in September 2023 has been set. FIFA will oversee the tournament, with the group stage draw scheduled for December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., USA. Italy will play against Israel in the World Cup championships in the city of Toronto, Canada.
Gattuso's tenure as Italy coach begins on Friday. He takes over from Luciano Spalletti, who lost his job due to a dismal European title defense. The road ahead may be tough, but with Gattuso at the helm, there's hope that Italy can rise to the challenge and reclaim their place among the world's top football nations.
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