Gennaro Gattuso admitted the team lost confidence after Italy’s 1-4 home defeat to Norway, missing automatic World Cup qualification again and forced to try their luck in the playoffs. Previously, in two such attempts, Italy failed to reach the final tournament.
On 17 Nov 2025 GMT+7, Gennaro Gattuso openly acknowledged that Italy suffered a heavy 4-1 home defeat to Norway, causing the Azzurri to miss automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup and forcing them into the playoffs for the third consecutive time. Italy had never succeeded in these prior playoff attempts and had been eliminated from World Cup qualification twice in a row (2018 and 2022).
Although Italy knew finishing first was virtually impossible, needing a 9-0 win to overturn the group’s goal difference against Norway, they hoped at least to secure a victory to rebuild confidence before the playoffs. However, what unfolded was a nightmare: after taking the lead through Francesco Pio Esposito, Italy conceded four consecutive goals, ending the match with a painful first defeat under Gattuso’s tenure.
Gattuso admitted it was "really concerning" after the team collapsed in the second half.
In the post-match press conference, when asked about Norway’s dominance in the second half, Gattuso stated the issue was not physical but due to a complete breakdown in mindset and tactics.
"Just 30 seconds after the break, we allowed them an immediate chance and then retreated, playing right into their hands. It’s not a fitness problem but a mistake in timing and decision-making," he said.