Italy's coach Gattuso describes World Cup qualifier as the most significant game in his professional life

The Italian national team will face Northern Ireland in Bergamo on Thursday aiming to secure a return to the World Cup finals after missing out on the previous two tournaments in Russia and Qatar.

"Tomorrow represents the most crucial game I have ever been involved in," Gattuso stated to the media.

"However I feel ready. I am focusing on positive outcomes rather than negatives and we will approach it with full commitment."

Gattuso confessed that Thursdays encounter holds even greater weight for him than the 2006 World Cup final where he triumphed as a player for Italy via penalties against France.

Since that victory Italy has not advanced to a knockout stage at any World Cup and the defeats in the 2018 and 2022 qualifying playoffs have amplified the importance of this fixture.

Gattuso humorously mentioned relying on medication to rest otherwise the stress keeps him awake all night "like a bat".

"That era feels distant now. I retired long ago and the games I participated in are a blur," Gattuso explained.

"The difference lies not just in the nerves but in the personal accountability I have assumed."

Gattuso noted that nearly all his squad members are available with only Inter Milans Alessandro Bastoni and Atalantas Gianluca Scamacca carrying minor concerns ahead of the semi final.

Pressure

Forward Mateo Retegui returns to Bergamo the venue where he led Serie A scoring for Atalanta during the 2024/25 campaign and scored a brace in a 5 0 victory over Estonia back in September.

"We have discussed maintaining composure staying relaxed and avoiding overthinking," Retegui commented now at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.

"Everyone understands a victory is the sole acceptable outcome."

Should Italy overcome Northern Ireland who last appeared at a World Cup 40 years ago exiting in the group phase they will travel to play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland managed a 0 0 stalemate against Italy at Windsor Park in 2021 a outcome that prevented the then European champions from leading their group and contributed to their playoff loss against North Macedonia.

"Our focus must be on delivering the performance without dwelling on the consequences. The burden of expectations falls on the prominent team which is Italy," remarked Northern Ireland manager Michael ONeill.

"We cannot let the stature of their roster intimidate us."

ONeill who guided Northern Ireland to their debut European Championship in 2016 recognises the strain on Italy and expressed a desire for a closely contested affair.

"Italy must navigate their unique pressures tied to their legacy as a premier football power. We hold that in high regard," ONeill continued.

"It is not an element we can exploit rather it is their challenge to manage and we need to render the contest challenging for them."