Italy’s Delegation Chief Gianluigi Buffon sees ‘prejudice’ in opposition to Gennaro Gattuso and says everybody will ‘go dwelling’ if the Azzurri fail to qualify for the World Cup.
Buffon spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday, days after a World Cup play-off draw that paired the Azzurri with Northern Eire within the semifinal.
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When the Azzurri have been eradicated from the 2010 World Cup, Buffon warned that in a couple of years the nation would have celebrated a qualification for the competitors, not profitable it. Sadly, time proved him proper.
Buffon: Italy ‘ rested on our energy’
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 06: Gianluigi Buffon of Italy attends earlier than the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between France and Italy at Parc des Princes stadium on September 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photograph by Claudio Villa/Getty Photographs)
“I understood it was occurring; the modifications underway have been sooner than anybody thought. It was a provocation, however solely to a sure extent. I additionally wished us to cease telling ourselves tales that now not exist,” Buffon stated.
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“As we speak’s outcomes return to twenty years in the past, to once we rested on our energy. On Buffon, Cannavaro, Totti, pondering it could final perpetually for divine grace. Even again then, we needed to rethink our technical and tactical fashions.”
Gattuso has been working within the FIGC for greater than two years, so how can the federation reverse the development?
“Begin from the underside. I imply from seven to 13 years previous, when there’s an actual imprinting,” Buffon stated.
“From fifteen onwards, you’ll be able to at all times enhance, however expertise is shaped earlier. Along with the assistance of Mom Nature, which I wouldn’t overlook. We’re speaking to Prandelli to grasp easy methods to construction this work, however we wished to attend for the qualifiers earlier than defining every part. What if issues go badly? We requested ourselves. Everybody out, we go dwelling, a brand new man is available in, with different concepts and possibly erases the mission. In the event you begin one thing like this, you want stability.”
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If Italy progress to the World Cup play-off Remaining, they’ll meet Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away. Marco Materazzi stated he’d get pleasure from taking part in such an enormous recreation away, however Buffon was not on the identical web page.
“I don’t agree with Marco. In matches like this, a little bit of assist counts and the group provides you an enormous enhance,” stated the ex-goalkeeper.
“Concern grips you; it stops you from taking part in. As an alternative, you want the suitable respect, holding in thoughts that to achieve the Remaining, you must get by the semifinal, we should not drown in a brand new North Macedonia.”
Secure to say Buffon hasn’t loved criticism in the direction of the nationwide group in latest months.
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“No, and persevering with with silly comparisons to the previous solely makes right now’s gamers really feel insufficient,” he stated.
Buffon: I don’t like prejudice in opposition to Gattuso
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose through the press convention at Resort Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Paolo Bruno/Getty Photographs)
“With the nationwide group, there’s at all times been a recreation of destruction. I do know it effectively, however let’s attempt to perceive the historic second, who advantages from it?
“Gattuso has been teaching for 12 years; he’s an amazing skilled. I don’t like and I don’t perceive this prejudice in opposition to him. With him, I speak about options and concepts, earlier than and after the match, through the week. He decides every part, just like the double centre-forward, which is an excellent instinct.
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“Rino is the suitable head coach, the very best determine we may have chosen and also you journalists understand it effectively.
“You [journalists] speak to the gamers greater than we administrators and you already know precisely what they consider Rino. Don’t assume we haven’t famous that the media following us are much less crucial.”
Gennaro Gattuso hopes Serie A fixtures will be moved to present the nationwide group extra time to organize for the Northern Eire recreation in March 2026.
“All of us beat our chests when the anthem performs, then possibly wipe pretend tears on our shirts after a defeat. To be clear: having these free days would assist us tremendously. However we now have to discover a strategy to be stronger even than these concessions we don’t get,” argued Buffon.
“As Rino says, we’re sturdy. Interval. The World Cup is a form of magic meant to be skilled by the nation; we merely can’t miss it. Let’s assist the dream.”
