Sacchi: ‘Italy need a training camp before the play-offs, I’m worried’

Former Italy national team head coach Arrigo Sacchi believes that Gennaro Gattuso and the current squad ‘need’ a one-off training camp ahead of the World Cup play-offs in March, as he takes a damning stance on the Azzurri after Sunday’s 4-1 loss against Norway: ‘I’m worried’. 

Italy have had to settle for a spot in the World Cup play-offs for the third cycle in a row following a 4-1 defeat at home against Norway on Sunday. That result confirmed Italy’s second-place finish in Group I, while Norway qualified for the World Cup finals directly as group winners. 

What is alarming for Gattuso and his staff is the fact that there are no more international breaks between now and March, which means that he will only have one or two training sessions to work with his players before the decisive World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26. 

There have been suggestions that the FIGC will look to get the squad together, or even potentially to move Serie A matches in order to facilitate a sort of mini international break to help the Italy squad prepare for the World Cup play-offs. 

Sacchi, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, insists that a get-together before the play-offs is a necessity.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup, but we need to wake up,” Sacchi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“It’s not possible to play the way we did in the second half against Norway. And what is there to say that things will change by these decisive matches in March? 

“In a situation like this, the only medicine I have is this: Work. However, Gattuso can’t work with his team because the players are back at their clubs and everything becomes more complicated. I repeat: I’m worried.” 

Sacchi went on to explain where Italy’s difficulties are coming from. 

He replied: “I’ve seen individual and collective mistakes that you just can’t make at a certain level. I’m looking for justification in their psychological attitude, especially in that second half. The Azzurri were a bit scared, they lost their heart and looked afraid to win. 

“The fact remains that for all four goals we conceded on Sunday, there were glaring mistakes that a Serie A footballer just can’t make. Some turned their backs when the ball was being crossed in, some left Haaland to have a free shot in the middle of the area, some made mistakes in the passing. You don’t get far like that.” 

And what does Sacchi feel that Italy need to do to amend their previous errors and qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America? 

“We need to be aware of our limitations. You need a lot of humility to do that, though. You have to act like a teacher teaching the alphabet to first graders. I’m not exaggerating. I hear a lot of talk about formations, methods, tactics, but we have to understand that we have to work in depth on the basic concepts. 

“In my opinion, they need a training camp at Coverciano before the March break. Gattuso could train with them for a few days, regroup the squad after this blow, recharge the batteries, also from a psychological point of view, and improve on what has not been working. But, I’m sure that clubs would oppose a request like that. 

“I remember the battles I had to fight when I was in the national team dugout. Individual interests always prevail in Italy, and we don’t understand that to build a team, national teams included, you need time, patience and training. A lot of training.”