Italy plays the first World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland. It is an appointment that cannot be missed, which is why we must stay on Gattuso’s bandwagon
There is half the national team squad that has never seen an Italy match in the second phase of a World Cup. It is the youngest, not even too young now, who must bring us back to the World Cup after twelve years of painful absence. There is an entire generation (Generation Z) which has been denied the emotion of a magical summer throbbing with blue colours, and which waits hopefully.
We are all Ringhio Gattusolike him condemned to sleepless nights waiting for tonight’s match against the Irish. The coach confessed on the eve of having made peace with sleeping pills, that he was no longer allergic to them and that he was walking around the room with wide eyes, consumed by anticipation. Those who hate him think it’s a sign of tension and weakness. Those who love him, the vast majority, forgive him a moment of humanity that makes him similar to all of us.
Those who care about the national team will not have slept a wink tonight and, if we are good enough to overcome the obstacle of Northern Ireland, they will not even sleep on Monday before the final. The others either lie knowing they are lying, or they support against it and there are quite a few of them, given that the fate of the national team is linked to that of the federation which has a fair number of very noisy enemies.
However, this is not the time for controversy but for national unity. Gattuso’s Italy, which must secure a pass to the World Cup between now and next Tuesday, belongs to everyone, not to Gravina, Buffon or Bonucci. Against the Irish, Wales or Bosnia, we need to throw our hearts over the obstacle and give our football back the dignity it deserves. We have discovered ourselves dominant in winter sports, we have the strongest tennis player in the world, the fastest motorbikes, we win in volleyball and we are enriched by a golden generation of kids who run, jump and swim. We have everything but we lost the ball. Even if we go to the World Cup it won’t be to be protagonists but at least let’s go because football still remains the sporting locomotive of this country and without a locomotive everything slows down.
This means feeling the weight of an entire nation on your shoulders, another very sincere and human statement from Gattuso: Not fear, but awareness of the importance of the appointment. We need to smell the danger, remember that four years ago we went out because of a shot from North Macedonia, not underestimate anyone and practice humility, concreteness and courage. Only in this way will we be able to move forward, this evening and possibly Tuesday in Wales or Bosnia. Full speed ahead, Italy.
