“He's What We Needed, We Have A Great Tradition And It Must Be Respected”

With less than one month before we enter the year 2026, one thing that would soon dominate the airwaves is the upcoming World Cup playoff especially for Italy and apart from the coach of National team, another individual that would have his job on the line is FIGC President Gabriele Gravina.

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After the Azzurri failed to qualify for the last World Cup, they would be looking to avoid such this time around and for Gravina, he spoke about various issues relating to the team and their coach, Gennaro Gattuso and his predecessors, Luciano Spalletti and Roberto Mancini.

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Gravina spoke about Spalletti’s dismissal and the hiring of Gattuso during an interview with Corriere dello Sport as the Azzurri sacked Spalletti after a 3-0 loss against Norway on June 6 and appointed Gattuso a few days later but he was unable to prevent the team from another playoff, just like under Mancini.

Gravina has now revealed that the former midfielder was part of the FIGC plan regardless of Spalletti’s departure. “At Club Italia, the dialogue is constant. In March 2025, we had already contacted Rino [Gattuso] to get him involved,” said the FIGC President in the interview.

“He would have become the U21 coach. Baldini was also on board, so when we had the chance, we called both of them.” Gravina also confirmed that Mancini had made himself available to replace Spalletti. The former Inter Milan coach had won the 2020 Euros but also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

He then resigned in August 2023 to take over role of the Saudi Arabia national team coach just a few weeks later and his exit was not well taken, especially by Gravina, which is perhaps the reason why he wasn’t rehired. “It’s true, I spoke to him, and he made himself very available,” the FIGC President confirmed.

He went on to say that he “wouldn’t have dismissed” Spalletti even after the defeat to Norway and explained what happened the day the ex-Italy boss announced his resignation. Gravina had been criticised for not being the first to announce Spalletti’s exit and not even attending the press conference, but he clarified:

“It was not true, I was there, but since it was UEFA’s pre-match press conference, I couldn’t speak. At the end of the press conference, Luciano and I were supposed to announce the termination together. He broke down at the first question,” he further revealed on the subject.

“He couldn’t contain his outburst of anger, but it was the reaction of a true Italian.” Meanwhile, Gravina further went on to reveal that he won’t be forced to resign if Italy fail to qualify for the World Cup and discusses a new project that will prioritise ‘technique’ over tactics at a youth level.

Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semifinal play-off in March next year and will meet Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final if they progress and when asked whether he’d resign if the Azzurri fail to qualify for the World Cup once again, he replied:

“No rule forces me to step aside. I’d certainly do some personal soul-searching, but to those who tell me ‘get a real job’, I reply: If I leave, does football restart, and do we win the World Cup? If I had that certainty, I’d be the first to step down.” He continued.

Gravina, however, is confident the Azzurri will reach their target. “Yes, I base that on concrete, real, objective elements, like the path that brought us here, setting aside the second half against Norway. Pessimism makes us waste energy; spreading it doesn’t help. The goal is within reach.”

“Let’s roll up our sleeves and commit together, I mean, everyone.” Italian football issues are also tied to the lack of options in Serie A. “We have 97 eligible players, 25% of the total, 97 across 20 Serie A clubs. Do you realise what it means?” said Gravina.

The FIGC President said once more that it is not possible to impose a law on a minimum number of Italian players. “It’s impossible, the federation can only intervene regarding non-EU players, as it already has, respecting the quotes set by the Bossi-Fini law,” he said.

“Limiting the number of players coming from the EU violates European rules that, since the Bosman ruling, guarantee free movement for footballers. Betting on Italians can’t be an obligation, but it must come as a natural inclination. Combined with investment in the youth sectors and infrastructure.”

“Our long-term planning has been underway since 2018. In the meantime, we became European champions at the U17 and U19 levels and U20 World Cup runners-up. Now we are launching a project for basic activities from 5 to 13 years old with two World Cup winners, Perrotta and Zambrotta, together in a master with Prandelli.”

“We want to do away with the idea of a method focused solely on tactics,” he continued. The next step for the federation will be to focus “less tactics and more technique, that’s the goal. We need to free creativity. Kids get bored, they want to play and the coaches tend to trap them in tactical schemes at a very young age. We need to create educators.”

“Anyone who’s focused on results only can’t work in grassroots football. It would be different if the kids were entrusted to training specialists.” Lastly, Gravina replied to a question on whether Serie A clubs are acting as ‘enemies’ of the Italy national team: “Objectively, they are, even if unintentionally. Every club looks out for its own interest.” He concluded.

In a related development, Inter star Alessandro Bastoni has hailed the impact of Gattuso for the national team as they prepare for another playoff while hoping for a different outcome than the last time they were in this exact possible more than four years ago.

Bastoni was part of the Italy squad that won the 2020 Euros, but also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and next year, they will have another chance as they’ll host Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal.The winner will visit Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.

“It hasn’t been an easy period; we didn’t do well at the Euros. There’s a considerable difference between the club and the national team because obviously, there’s less sync, but the most important thing is the sense of belonging,” he admitted in the interview.

“We have a great tradition, and it must be respected. Gattuso has insisted more on this than on the tactical aspect. He’s very direct, he says things straight, and it’s what we needed.” Francesco Pio Esposito has received a lot of attention domestically, having already scored goals for Inter and the national team.

“He’s an extraordinary lad despite only being 20. He’s found himself in a world where it’s easy to lose your head amid TV and social media, but he’s super chilled, and we try to help him even if there’s no need at the moment. We must leave him calm, and his moment will come.”

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Talking about Inter’s stars’ attitude in the dressing room, Bastoni said: “Lautaro talks a lot. Barella and I as well. Lautaro is our captain and leader, but he is very good at getting help when he needs it.” He concluded but for now, Bastoni will be focused on Inter as they look to remain in the Serie A title race and qualify for UCL knock-out stage.

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