No extra Italy training sessions before World Cup play-off as Gattuso fear becomes reality

Corriere della Sera reports that a tight fixture will make it impossible for the FIGC to organise a get-together for Italy players at Coverciano in February, which means coach Gennaro Gattuso will have just a couple of training sessions available to prepare for a World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland.

Corriere della Sera reports that Gattuso’s ‘fear has become reality’ as the Azzurri boss will not be given any extra window to work with Italy players ahead of the World Cup play-off semifinal on March 26 against Northern Ireland.

Gattuso hoped FIGC and Lega Serie A would cooperate to find a two-day window in February, one month before the play-off semifinal, so that he could work with the squad in preparation for the game.

According to Corriere della Sera, however, the congested schedule will make it impossible for Gattuso to spend two days with the team in Coverciano a month before the game. The news will become official next week, when Lega Serie A will confirm dates and times for league games on the weekends of February 1 and 8.

The last time Italy played a competitive match was on November 16, 2025, losing 4-1 at home against Norway. Gattuso’s men will reunite more than four months after that game, meeting Northern Ireland in the World Cup semifinal play-off on March 26, 2026.

To accommodate the Azzurri’s needs, it would have been necessary to free up two days in one of the first two weeks of February, scheduling one Coppa Italia quarter-final in that week and three in the other.

In any case, the players involved in those quarter-finals could not be called up, just like those playing abroad, as their clubs had not given the green light. “If these are the conditions, it’s better not to do it,” Gattuso reportedly said.

Corriere della Sera confirms that the only way the Italy coach can remain in contact with his players is through individual meetings and even dinners across Italy and Europe over the next two months.

The Azzurri CT will also attend several games to scout possible additions to the team, such as Marco Palestra, Nicolò Zaniolo, Federico Chiesa and Nicolò Fagioli.

Lega Serie A will still try to schedule as many games as possible on Friday and Saturday on the weekend of March 22, before the game against Northern Ireland.

On that round, Fiorentina and Inter will meet at the Stadio Franchi, but if the Tuscans qualify for the Conference League Round of 16, it will be impossible to even play the game on Saturday, meaning that Gattuso will only have a couple of training sessions available with the full team to prepare for the World Cup play-off semifinal.