🇮🇹 Italy face double World Cup test, Gattuso stuns everyone

Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy enters the heart of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with two matches that are as crucial as finals. In just four days, the Azzurri will face Estonia away and Israel in Udine.

Watch the entire Serie BKT live with LaB Channel on OneFootball. Click here to purchase LaB Channel for only €79.99 a year and watch it on all your devices .

The coach knows it well: there is no room for missteps, because every lost point could weigh heavily on the road to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

For this reason, Gattuso has announced his intention to field “two different teams,” studying different tactical solutions depending on the opponent.

Gattuso’s plan for this double commitment is clear: against Estonia, there will be room for an offensive Italy , ready to push forward with a 4-4-2 designed to dominate the game from the first minute.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

The choice, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport , is an aggressive formation, with wide wingers and the Kean-Retegui duo leading the attack.

With Israel, however, things change: Gattuso is thinking of a three-man defense and a more crowded midfield, a structure capable of providing more balance without sacrificing quality.

In this way, the National Team presents itself with two different faces, adapting to the characteristics of its rivals.

Injuries have not spared the team. Politano and Zaccagni, two key players on the wings, have had to withdraw.

The coach has decided to replace them with Spinazzola and Piccoli, two profiles with different characteristics but useful for filling the gaps left by their teammates. Spinazzola offers pace and drive down the flank, while Piccoli, a central striker, brings height and physicality.

The National Team is now less creative on the wings, but more robust and vertical, a feature that could prove decisive in matches like these.

Despite the forced changes, some certainties remain untouchable. Donnarumma will defend the goal and be the undisputed leader of the team.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

Bastoni and Calafiori will lead a young but solid backline, while in midfield the playmaking will be entrusted to Barella and Tonali, the true engines of the team.

Up front, Kean and Retegui are tasked with providing goals and depth, with Raspadori ready to start wide on the left and cut inside to create numerical superiority.

Against Estonia, according to Gazzetta dello Sport previews, Gattuso will opt for an attacking 4-4-2.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

The probable lineup sees Donnarumma in goal; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, and Dimarco (with Spinazzola as an alternative) in defense; Cambiaso, Barella, Tonali, and Raspadori in midfield; Kean and Retegui in attack.

The goal will be to set the pace, raise the pressing, and exploit the speed of the wingers to strike early.

The scenario is different for the match in Udine against Israel. Here, the coach seems inclined to field a three-man defense, with Donnarumma behind Mancini (or Coppola), Bastoni, and Calafiori. On the flanks, there will be room for Di Lorenzo or Cambiaso on the right and Dimarco on the left.

The midfield will be the beating heart of the team, with Barella, Tonali, and Locatelli (or Cristante) setting the tempo and pressing. Up front, the Kean-Retegui duo is confirmed, ready to capitalize on opportunities created from the wings.

These two matches are not just simple steps toward the World Cup , but real tests of maturity for Gattuso’s new Italy .

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

Estonia, a team that is weaker on paper, must be faced with the right aggression to avoid surprises, while Israel represents a trickier obstacle, especially physically and tactically. Bringing home six points would mean securing the position in the group and looking to the future with greater peace of mind.

Beyond the result, the identity of the National Team is also at stake. Gattuso wants a young, aggressive, and versatile Italy , capable of adapting to the opponent but without losing the courage to attack.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

It’s a challenge within the challenge: not just to win, but to build a group with a winning mentality. That’s why the next two matches will not only be decisive for the standings, but also for understanding who can truly become a protagonist in the new Azzurri cycle.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 Mattia Ozbot - 2025 Getty Images