ZURIGO (SVIZZERA) (ITALPRESS) – “I think we have to comment only on the race against Northern Ireland, we play everything. Then Wales and Bosnia have two different environments, different types of play, but the head is to Ireland, then we hope to talk about one of the two.” It was declared the ct of the Italian national Gennaro Gattuso, to the microphones of Rai Sport, after the draw of the playoffs in which Italy will play against Northern Ireland. “Northern Ireland is a team within our reach, we play it in a dry game, they are very strong physically, they play on the second balls, there will be a big game to make, but I think we can play it.”.
“We have to play it, we knew we had to go through the playoffs, it’s a path we have to improve, we look confidently forward. The problem is not tactical, at this moment we have to work on our fragility. My priority is this”, added the technical commissioner to Sky Sport microphones. “Possible internships? It is not up to me to decide, we have a president and who deals with these things. The more days we have available and the better. For my part, I must stay as close as possible to the players, also because we are 11th day and we will meet again at 30th”.
“The convocation of the Church? You know his problem. I call him at every call, the problem is not Gattuso or his staff, the problem has him. You always ask me, but I always answer the same way.”
ALL PLAYOFF ACCOPULATIONS
BUFFON “ABBIAMO OTTIME CHANCE DI QUALIFICARCI”
“Our destiny is to know that we have to face two games because it is what we want to do and what we will do. We will do this in the best possible way, knowing we have a great chance to get to the World Championship because we have shown it so many times.” He spoke so official channels of Figc the head delegation of the National Gianluigi Buffon after the draw. “Everything so, as it happened in the last game, there is some inconvenience that makes sure we can’t give continuity in performance. But I believe that in all the virtuous paths, when everything seems to be fine, there is always a contrattempo that can also be beneficial because it can make you find the right humility and the right attention to face the continuation”.
O’NEILL “AFFRONTIAMO UNA DELLE NAZIONALI PIÙ FORTI DI SEMPRE”
“Any team is complicated to deal with. It will be beautiful, we will face one of the greatest nationals ever.” So the Northern Ireland ct Michael O’Neill at Sky Sport microphones to comment on the semi-final playoff against Italy. “The race against Norway? They have Haaland and many strong players, but it is difficult to make an assessment. Only one qualified directly to the World Championship, but does not mean much for what concerns the strength of Italy.”.
STAMPA IRLANDA DEL NORD “PEGGIOR SORTEGGIO POSSIBILE”
“The worst draw possible.” This is the reaction from the Northern Irish press after the 2026 World Playoff draw. “This is the worst possible draw that Northern Ireland could hope for, because, despite the difficulties, Italy is still one of the best nations of world football,” says the “Belfast Telegraph”. The BBC: “Being at the FIFA ranking, this is the most difficult draw. Even if Northern Ireland wins, O’Neill team will face Bosnia and Herzegovina or Wales outside the house.”.
SHEVCHENKO “L’ITALIA DEVE QUALIFICARSI”
“Italy is a team that must be in the world, has one of the strongest championships in Europe. Gattuso has already given a mark to the team, I have seen so much aggression, I wish Italy to prepare for the best and succeed in getting to the world”. He told the microphones of Sky Sport the former Milan attacker and current president of the Ukrainian Federcalcio Andriy Shevchenko.
MONTELLA “NON C’È SPAZIO PER SBAGLIARE”
“Romania is a young team that has made Europeans, Lucescu knows Turkish football very well, but the truth is that to go to the world you have to do the most. This is the level here.” These are the words to the Sky Sport microphones of the ct of Turkey Vincenzo Montella about the playoffs for the World Cup 2026. “They will be two finals, hoping to get to the bottom. We come from a great result in Spain, the team has kept well, we have not disqualified, we arrive in the best conditions, even if you do not know how to arrive in March. However I asked the Federation to stop the championship before the playoffs, it would be nice to have two more days”
“Football tells us constantly, Malta and the Far Oer started making points, in the past it was not so. Italy? Welsh or Bosnia, I’m talking about Wales because it’s a very hostical team, it turns into a home. You have to do your best to go to the World Championship, there is no room to go wrong,” he concluded.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
