Gattuso: Italy Will Not Underestimate Anyone Ahead of World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs

Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso insisted on Tuesday that his team will not underestimate any opponents if they are forced to compete in the qualification play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, following a 3-0 victory over Israel.

“Football has changed; these days you can lose to anyone. We understand that we can’t afford to underestimate anyone… especially after what we’ve been through,” Gattuso told reporters.

“We’re coming from years of not being able to underestimate anyone. We have a lot of respect for everyone and we’re that team that has to do things as they’re supposed to be done.”

Match Summary: Italy vs Israel

The match saw Mateo Retegui score twice and Gianluca Mancini add a late header to secure Italy’s second place in Group I, with only the group winners qualifying automatically for the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next year.

Italy trails group leaders Norway by three points with two games remaining, but the Norwegians have a vastly superior goal difference and are expected to beat fourth-placed Estonia before their final group fixture against Italy at the San Siro next month. Norway currently has a perfect 18 points from six matches and defeated Italy 3-0 in June.

Tuesday’s fixture was preceded by a large pro-Palestinian demonstration. While the march initially saw at least 10,000 peaceful protestors, clashes broke out with police in the streets of Udine. Authorities used water cannon and tear gas to disperse a smaller group that engaged in disorder.

The unrest reflected continuing demands for a sporting boycott of Israel, following the country’s two-year military offensive in Gaza, which has reportedly killed more than 67,869 Palestinians. The conflict began after an attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

“It’s pointless hiding it; today was not easy, neither for us nor for you,” Gattuso said after the match.

“There were many days in which we thought that there might be the possibility that we might not even play the match. We came here knowing it wouldn’t be a party atmosphere and we felt that.

“I hope that in the future things will be a bit calmer. I think it will be; I don’t know what other problems could come out.”

The match in Udine was a reminder that for many, football intersects with wider political and humanitarian issues, rather than being purely about points on the table. Despite the tension, Italy ensured victory and maintained momentum as they prepare for the possibility of competing in the World Cup play-offs, keeping alive hopes of qualification for next year’s tournament.

Italy will now focus on retaining composure in remaining fixtures, mindful that every opponent must be approached with caution if they are to secure a spot in next year’s finals.