Gennaro Gattuso will attempt to end Italy’s 12-year absence from the World Cup when his side faces Northern Ireland in a crucial play-off semi-final on 26 March.
Since lifting the iconic trophy in 2006, the Azzurri have endured a dismal record on the global stage, failing to qualify entirely for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The four-time world champions have not featured at the finals since 2014, a staggering drought for a nation with such a rich footballing pedigree.
Now, the responsibility falls to a legendary former midfielder to restore his country to the sport’s biggest stage.
A calculated gamble by the Italian federation
Gattuso was appointed in June 2025 following the sudden dismissal of Luciano Spalletti just one game into the qualifying campaign.
The 47-year-old boasts a nomadic managerial resume, having taken charge of 10 different clubs across 12 years without ever staying beyond a second season.
Despite his volatile club record, technical delegate Gianluigi Buffon reportedly championed his former 2006 World Cup-winning team-mate for the top job.
Italian football journalist Daniele Verri believes the appointment was a calculated risk born out of necessity.
“Gattuso has the charisma, the popularity and is a known face as a world champion.”
“He doesn’t bring that much experience for a national team like Italy, but they took a man who has the right motivation to do well.”
Moving on from the Spalletti era
The transition to a new regime became unavoidable after players reportedly grew confused by the tactical overload demanded by the former Napoli manager.
Spalletti’s departure paved the way for a more pragmatic approach, with the new coaching staff tasked with instantly reviving the squad’s morale.
The current boss has made an impressive statistical start, securing five victories from his first six matches in charge.
However, that brief resurgence was not enough to secure automatic qualification for the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The play-off path to North America
The upcoming clash against Northern Ireland represents a make-or-break moment for the current generation of Italian talent.
Should the former AC Milan enforcer successfully navigate his first major hurdle, a final showdown awaits on 31 March.
Victory in the semi-final will set up a decisive winner-takes-all fixture against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
For a nation desperate to banish the ghosts of recent qualification failures, nothing less than a ticket to North America will suffice.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is prepared to sacrifice star talent for squad harmony as he finalises his 23-man roster for the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The German tactician is currently hosting his final international camp before naming a preliminary group for the tournament.
He faces the difficult task of whittling down a 55-man longlist, knowing that sheer individual quality will not guarantee a seat on the plane.
The former Bayern Munich boss previously stated that social skills and a willingness to accept supporting roles are paramount.
“It’ll be very important that we don’t select just for talent, but also for what we need from a player,” Tuchel said.
The danger of an unbalanced bench
International history is littered with managers who destabilised their own campaigns by packing their squads with demanding superstars.
Friction inevitably surfaces when elite competitors are forced to sit on the sidelines for their country during major finals.
This dilemma is particularly acute for the Three Lions, who currently boast an incredible depth of attacking midfield talent.
Keeping multiple world-class playmakers content while they undergo more training than competitive action will severely test the head coach’s credentials.
Lessons from historic failures
Former defender Christian Ziege witnessed exactly how an overabundance of egos can derail a campaign during the 1998 tournament in France.
His national side arrived brimming with natural ability but suffered an underwhelming 3-0 quarter-final exit against Croatia.
“We had so many leaders in that team, or at least too many players who thought they were leaders, who had to be in the first XI and had to play,” said the ex-Tottenham Hotspur full-back.
He explained that selecting two elite individuals for the same position inevitably poisons the dressing room atmosphere if one is left frustrated.
Ruthless high-profile omissions
Similar concerns drove Glenn Hoddle’s infamous decision to axe Paul Gascoigne from his travelling party ahead of that same 1998 campaign.
While the iconic playmaker possessed undeniable genius, the intense media circus and potential disruption of utilizing him as a fringe option proved too great a risk.
France head coach Didier Deschamps adopted the exact same ruthless approach when he omitted Samir Nasri from his 2014 squad.
The French World Cup winner noted that the ex-Manchester City midfielder’s unhappiness at not starting was palpable and toxic to the wider group dynamic.
Maintaining a unified camp across several weeks abroad will ultimately define whether this current generation can end decades of tournament heartbreak.
Two unnamed Brentford footballers suffered minor injuries after stepping in to stop an alleged racially motivated attack in Richmond during the early hours of Sunday.
The Premier League duo intervened to assist a man who was being targeted at approximately 02:00 GMT on Queen’s Road.
Witnesses reported that the pair successfully de-escalated the confrontation before emergency services arrived at the scene.
Neither individual sustained serious harm during the altercation and both were confirmed to be in good health later that day.
Police launch investigation
The incident took place just miles from the club’s headquarters as the squad returned to the capital from Yorkshire.
Following their final fixture before the international break, the players had been granted permission to make their own travel arrangements.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers attended the scene and have since engaged with the victim of the assault.
“The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.”
Metropolitan Police Spokesperson
Chasing European qualification
Prior to the incident, the west Londoners had secured a hard-fought goalless draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.
The point ensures the Bees remain firmly in the hunt for European football despite defying pre-season relegation fears.
Following the departure of their former manager and two top scorers in the summer, the club currently sits seventh in the top flight.
They are now just three points adrift of fifth place, a position that could secure Champions League qualification next season.
Andrews praises squad resilience
Current head coach Keith Andrews highlighted his immense pride in the squad after navigating a heavily disrupted week of preparation.
The manager commended his defensive unit for adapting swiftly to late tactical changes against a challenging opponent.
“A clean sheet was huge and how we defended the box was sensational.”
Keith Andrews
Andrews added that his pride in the team and staff remains constant regardless of the final whistle outcome.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed he will not rest Lionel Messi in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, describing the forward as essential to the club’s success.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played the full 90 minutes and scored as the Florida franchise defeated New York City FC 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom while serving a touchline ban, Mascherano stressed the absolute importance of his captain.
Managing the workload
“Clearly, he is a vital player for us if we are to achieve our objectives; quite frankly, without him, it would be impossible for us to reach the goals we have set for ourselves.”
The former Barcelona midfielder acknowledged the physical demands on the veteran attacker as the international tournament in North America approaches.
However, the Miami boss insisted the global superstar prefers to remain active on the pitch rather than watching from the sidelines.
“We try to look after him as much as possible, but we know that he is the kind of player who feels most comfortable when he is out on the pitch playing.”
International commitments
The legendary playmaker will now travel to join the Argentina squad for their March international fixtures against Mauritania and Zambia.
The reigning world champions were originally scheduled to face Spain in the Finalissima, but the fixture was cancelled after UEFA and CONMEBOL failed to agree on a new venue.
Following his national team duties, the World Cup-winning captain will return to a significantly streamlined domestic schedule.
Inter Miami were recently eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Nashville SC, leaving them solely focused on Major League Soccer.
Monitoring physical condition
“There are only two or three weeks where we won’t have a game during the week; otherwise, it will be a schedule of one match per week.”
With fewer midweek fixtures on the horizon, the coaching staff plan to assess the talismanic forward on a daily basis.
The prolific goalscorer has yet to officially confirm his participation in the 2026 World Cup, stating his decision will depend entirely on his fitness levels.
“We have to keep the lines of communication open, constantly checking in on his physical sensations and how he is feeling.”
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped from the squad for Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atletico after reportedly arriving late to training.
The former Liverpool full-back was a surprise omission from the starting line-up as Dani Carvajal took his place on the right flank.
Manager Alvaro Arbeloa made the decision to exclude the 27-year-old to maintain dressing room discipline.
Arbeloa enforces strict standards
Spanish outlet Marca reported that the defender failed to arrive on time for one of the final sessions of the week.
The decision was described as a clear message focused on respecting the team’s code of conduct.
Prior to this incident, the English international had started all of Real’s last four Champions League fixtures.
He had also appeared in five consecutive La Liga matches before last week’s victory over Elche.
Double blow follows England omission
It has been a challenging week for the academy graduate, who was also excluded from Thomas Tuchel’s expanded 35-man England squad.
“I know it’s a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These tough decisions come from the job.”
Thomas Tuchel
The national team boss explained that his choice was purely sporting, opting to retain Tino Livramento, Djed Spence, and Jarell Quansah.
“It’s a tough one, it’s a big name, a huge talent and a big career, but I know what Trent can give us and have decided to stick with the players we have.”
Thomas Tuchel
A mixed debut season in Spain
Since departing Anfield last summer, the right-back has endured a varied first season at the Bernabeu.
His campaign has been interrupted by two separate injury spells, though he has still managed 25 appearances across all competitions.
He recently drew praise for his performances in the Champions League double-header against Manchester City.
There is also the potential for a reunion with his childhood club later in the season.
If Real overcome Bayern Munich and Liverpool defeat Paris Saint-Germain, the two sides will meet in the Champions League semi-finals.
Manchester City have ended Arsenal’s quadruple hopes by securing a 2-0 victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, courtesy of a Nico O’Reilly double.
The defeat brings a depressingly familiar disappointment for Mikel Arteta’s side on the grandest stage.
Having dominated the Premier League this season with a nine-point advantage, the London club were heavily fancied to secure the first major silverware of the domestic calendar.
Goalkeeping error shifts momentum
After an evenly contested first half, the dynamic of the match completely altered following a glaring mistake by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spanish goalkeeper, selected ahead of first-choice David Raya, failed to collect a cross from Rayan Cherki and gifted the opposition a crucial opening goal.
Unfortunately it happened in a crucial moment.
Mikel Arteta
Prior to that breakthrough, the league leaders had created the better opportunities but were thwarted by a spectacular triple save from James Trafford.
Midfield absences expose vulnerabilities
Once ahead, the Manchester club smothered the game with relentless quality and intensity.
The Gunners struggled to break through a suffocating press and were frequently forced into playing long, unstructured passes.
Their inability to control possession was severely compounded by the injury-enforced absences of midfield technicians Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze.
Statistics show a worrying trend for the capital club, who have now committed seven individual errors leading to goals in their past 22 fixtures.
Focus turns to remaining silverware
Despite the bitter setback at Wembley, a highly successful campaign remains a distinct possibility for the Premier League pacesetters.
Favourable quarter-final draws in both the Champions League and FA Cup mean multiple avenues for redemption are still open.
I want the players to have some perspective.
Mikel Arteta
Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique insists there is no clear favourite for their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
The Reds secured their place in the last eight with a commanding 4-0 second-leg victory over Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Arne Slot’s side will travel to the French capital for the first leg on 8 April before welcoming the European holders to Anfield six days later.
Domestic struggles contrast with European progress
Liverpool have endured a difficult domestic campaign and currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.
A sequence of four league fixtures without a win was compounded by a 2-1 defeat at Brighton last Saturday.
Winning Europe’s premier club competition could provide an alternative route into next season’s tournament should the defending English champions fail to secure a top-four finish.
Enrique expects stern test
The two clubs met at the last-16 stage of the competition last season, with the Parisian outfit eventually progressing via a penalty shootout.
Despite the Merseyside club’s recent league struggles, the former Spain manager is anticipating a difficult two-legged affair.
“Liverpool holds good memories for us, of course,” Enrique said.
“I remember last year. Liverpool were the best team in Europe at that stage; they were playing incredible football.”
“I’m fortunate to have an incredible team and intelligent players. They know that in this type of game, there are no favourites.”
Searching for momentum
Before their European commitments resume, the Anfield club face a crucial FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.
Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz believes building momentum is essential if the squad is to salvage their season.
“It will be very important for us, also for our mind and also for the spirit in the team that we just create momentum and also an energy that we can win all the games now,” the 22-year-old told club media.
“It’s always better to win and of course we need the points as well so we will be ready for the game and try to take the three points home.”
Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes is set to be called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad to replace the injured Eberechi Eze for upcoming friendlies.
The Arsenal playmaker missed Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City after sustaining a lower leg issue.
His absence opens the door for the in-form Newcastle forward, who has already netted 14 goals across all competitions this season.
The 28-year-old previously earned a single senior cap during a friendly victory over Wales in October 2020.
Scotland approach rejected
Recent weeks saw the Scottish national team attempt to convince the prolific attacker to switch his international allegiances ahead of the summer World Cup.
However, he firmly rejected those advances from Steve Clarke’s side to remain eligible for the Three Lions.
He will now join Tuchel’s camp as the manager looks to evaluate fringe players before finalising his tournament selection.
Quansah joins injury list
England are scheduled to host Uruguay on 27 March before facing Japan four days later, with both fixtures taking place at Wembley Stadium.
In a further setback for the national team, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed that Jarell Quansah will also miss the upcoming international break.
The young centre-back has been officially ruled out of contention after suffering a thigh injury.