Ten goals for, four goals against. In just two games in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™, Italy have completely transformed themselves. They are playing some silky stuff, while getting the job done, even if their defence is in need of shoring up in the coming matches.
Gennaro Gattuso’s arrival at the helm has injected fresh energy into the side, and their performances are testament to that. First came the 5-0 drubbing of Estonia in Bergamo, followed by their dramatic last-gasp 5-4 victory against Israel in Debrecen.
World Cup 26 ticket information
These two victories have helped keep Italy’s World Cup qualification hopes alive, no mean feat for a country that has not featured at the competition since the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. And who better than 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ winner Gattuso to revitalise this crop of players and spur them on to World Cup qualification? The new coach has sparked a resurgence amongst his players, combining a bold mentality with a shrewd tactical set-up that has brought back the two-striker formation.
There is an ongoing debate surrounding Italy’s lack of a top centre-forward who is capable of conjuring up magic and finding the back of the net on a regular basis, giving them the attacking edge that modern football cries out for. Italy have been found wanting in that department in recent months, but since Gattuso took over the reins, he has stamped his authority on the side, implementing a new tactical approach, deploying two potent strikers up top, Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui.
How did the team fare in Gattuso’s first two matches in charge with two powerful strikers leading the line? Kean, who plies his trade for Fiorentina, got himself on the scoresheet on three occasions, once against Estonia and twice against Israel, while Al-Qadisiyah’s new recruit Retegui bagged two goals and got four assists over the two matches.
These are solid stats, not just on an individual level, but also for the national team as a whole, who find themselves playing catch-up with Norway following a less than auspicious start to the qualifying campaign. With crucial goals and excellent attacking work, Kean and Retegui have been a breath of fresh air in attack for Italy over the last two games, and they will be key to their success going forward.
“As long as they’re in this rich vein of form and keep firing on all cylinders, we need to build the team around them,” said Gattuso following the Israel match. “They’re not afraid to drop back, they press high, and exploit the space behind the defence. We need to give credit where credit’s due, and then it’s my job to find the right tactical balance to get the most out of them individually, while ensuring that they link up well with the rest of the team.”
Kean himself waxed lyrical about his partnership with Retegui: “I love playing up top with Mateo. I’m beginning to understand him really well, and I’m happy to be playing alongside him.”
Although Italy have been on fire up front, they struggled defensively against Israel, leaking four goals and almost coming a cropper in what was a very important game in their qualifying campaign.
That said, despite going behind in the encounter and conceding twice in the dying embers of the game, which could have easily knocked their confidence, they bounced back in a never-say-die fashion, embodying their coach’s character and resilience.
Gattuso had already shown this when his side went head-to-head with Estonia, opting to forgo defensive stability and throw caution to the wind to chase the win and open the floodgates, with goal difference at the back of his mind. It was plain sailing for his side in Bergamo, whereas against Israel, despite his best efforts to shore things up and add more balance by starting Manuel Locatelli, things did not quite go to plan.
However, the Azzurri’s grit and determination saw them over the line, and Italy can take heart from netting five goals and claiming all three points. The most important thing Italy will take away from this international break is the renewed confidence that has been instilled in them and the six points that have propelled them into second place in Group I.
