Gattuso: 'We play football for moments like this'

Coach Gennaro Gattuso affirmed that the Italian national team "does not perceive a distinction between Wales and Bosnia & Herzegovina," and expressed admiration for Edin Dzeko before the World Cup 2026 playoff final.

The match will take place at Bilino Polje Stadium (Zenica) at 01:45 tonight, with the outcome determined within the 90 minutes of regular time, extra time, or penalty shootout if necessary. Previously, Italy defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo, while Bosnia relied on penalties to overcome Wales after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.

Initially, the Italian national team planned to travel early to Bosnia, but due to pitch conditions affected by rain and snow, they decided to train in Italy before departing later in the evening.

"Anyone involved in football lives for moments like this," Gattuso shared with Sky Sport Italia after inspecting the pitch. "I personally always feel the pre-match tension, and that's the best part. If you no longer have that feeling, it's best to retire or leave coaching. We understand the importance of this match, especially since Italy missed the last two World Cups. However, all energy should be focused on the performance on the field, not wasted before the game."

Gattuso was a member of the Italian team that won the 2006 World Cup, and now he faces the opportunity to bring joy to fans in a different way, as head coach.

"I have always felt a great responsibility since the day I took over the national team. But I don't dwell too much on positive or negative scenarios. The important thing is to look into the players' eyes and instill confidence in them. Not because I want to give something, but because I believe we can achieve our goal."

"Over the past seven months, the team has improved significantly. The style may not be particularly attractive, but that's not important. Italy's history shows that with spirit, desire, and resilience, we have achieved unexpected things. That is an indispensable value."

Gattuso is likely to keep the same starting lineup as against Northern Ireland, despite suggestions for changes involving younger players. In that match, Sandro Tonali opened the scoring before assisting Moise Kean to secure a 2-0 victory.

"We anticipated difficulties. Honestly, Northern Ireland's proactive ball movement made it easier for us. If they had played long balls as usual, things could have been more complicated," Gattuso noted.

"The next match will be completely different. Bosnia has two very fast and skilled wingers, along with clever moving forwards. We need courage when holding the ball, because they are a clear collective in their play and objectives."

Earlier, Bosnia's coach Sergej Barbarez said his team would be ready to defend in numbers if leading, but Gattuso expressed skepticism about this.

The Italian national team is ready for the challenge

"I know Sergej is excellent in tactical battles, so I don't think they will just defend deep. Bosnia has quality and always respects opponents, so we must do the same."

"Regardless of what happened, there is no real difference between Wales and Bosnia. Previous discussions did not reflect the true nature. This is a tough match, and we respect them."

This statement relates to a video showing Italian players celebrating when Bosnia beat Wales in a penalty shootout, sparking speculation that they wanted to avoid playing in Cardiff.

On his part, Dzeko also commented on the situation and expressed his affection for Italy after many years in Serie A. Gattuso added: "I spoke with Dzeko for two months while working at Hajduk Split and wanted to sign him from Fenerbahce, but the club lacked financial resources."

"Nevertheless, we built a very good relationship. He is a professional model, still scoring regularly at 40, and always makes respectful statements. That shows he is not only a great player but also a respectable person."

In closing, Gattuso sent a message to fans back home: "I know up to 10 million viewers watched the Northern Ireland match on television. Over the past months, traveling across Italy, I understand that our responsibility is to bring joy to them."