Italy’s Dimarco: ‘Turning it around is impossible, we must prepare for the play-offs’

Inter wing-back Federico Dimarco has downplayed any hopes of a miraculous late surge in Italy’s World Cup qualifying group, admitting that overtaking Norway is “impossible” ahead of the final match.

Speaking in a press conference before the game, with quotes via FCInterNews, the Inter wing-back said:

“Turning it around is difficult, actually, impossible. Beyond a 9-0 turnaround, this is our last game before the play-offs in March, so we need to test a few things. Winning helps you keep winning.”

Italy would have to stun Norway with a hefty scoreline to qualify for next year’s World Cup automatically, with the wing-back confessing that they will likely face the play-offs next year.

Dimarco expects a tough contest against the group leaders but insists the Azzurri have grown since the reverse fixture:

“We’ll face a strong team: we saw that in the first match. But we’re not the same side as in Oslo. That was a bad performance. Tomorrow we need to prove how much we’ve improved and get our seventh straight win.”

Italy have started well under Gattuso but were unconvincing in Thursday’s narrow 2-0 win over minnows Moldova. Dimarco picked up an assist in that game after coming on as a substitute.

He also praised Francesco Pio Esposito, his young Inter teammate:

“He’s a strong, hard-working kid. He still has things to learn, but he’s on the right path. We just need to let him grow without too much pressure: he’s showing a lot already, and when he stumbles, we’ll be there to help him.”