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The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Gennaro Gattuso seeks ‘family' ethos in bid to avoid World Cup unthinkable
Gennaro Gattuso said all the things he was expected to say at his first appearance as Italy manager. He talked about the need to restore enthusiasm to an Azzurri side whose morale has been dented by recent setbacks, as well as that sense of shared purpose that bonded him to teammates in the World Cup-winning side of 2006. The word he kept coming back to was 'family', insisting: 'That's the most important thing, more than tactics or formations.' His is not a vision of paternalistic authority but of a group close enough to speak hard truths to each other's faces. 'In moments of difficulty, when you feel alone and don't hear the voice of your teammate, those are the 90 minutes that feel never-ending,' said Gattuso. 'This is what we need to change. We need to help each other, we need to say those things that maybe you don't want to hear, because that's the only way you grow.' They will have no shortage of material. Italy's men's team are at an all-time low. Having failed to qualify for consecutive World Cups, their attempts to reach next summer's tournament are in jeopardy after a 3-0 thrashing by Norway in their opening game of Group I. That result led the Italian football federation (FIGC) to sack Luciano Spalletti as manager, though he persuaded them to allow him one more game. The idea was to leave on a more positive note, and perhaps that was achieved in a 2-0 win over Moldova, though the pre-game conference at which he in effect confirmed his own termination made for an awkward occasion. How had it come to this? Spalletti's Italy were a disappointment at the Euros last summer, putting up a feeble defence of their 2021 triumph as they scraped out of their group with a 98th-minute equaliser against Croatia before losing meekly to Switzerland. The manager had been dealt a tough hand, replacing Roberto Mancini midway through qualifying. It was easy to argue he deserved time to implement his vision after steering Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. But what was the point in continuing, if the federation's faith in him was always this fragile? Gattuso's appointment raises more questions about their approach. The FIGC's president, Gabriele Gravina, confirmed on Thursday that they had approached Claudio Ranieri first. That would have been a popular choice – a man with a reputation for rescuing teams in times of emergency, fresh from one last miracle with his boyhood team, Roma. But Ranieri already has a new job, moving upstairs as a senior adviser for the Giallorossi. As he explained it this week: 'I respect the national team, but I belong to Roma.' Gravina sought to portray it not as a rejection but merely a respectful conversation with the club's ownership. Whatever the truths of that story, it is a hard pivot from Ranieri – who made Leicester champions and has written countless brilliant chapters in his almost 40 years of management – to Gattuso, who has not yet left such a mark on any of the nine clubs he has led since 2013. There are always different ways to tell a story. Is Gattuso, 47, a man who has repeatedly fallen short of his clubs' objectives – failing to reach the Champions League with Milan and Napoli, finishing third in Croatia with Hajduk Split and not even lasting a full season with Valencia and Marseille in between? Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Or is he, as his former Italy teammate Gigi Buffon – head of delegation for the Azzurri at Euro 2024 and seemingly moving into a more prominent role for the federation – argued on Thursday, a person who has shown courage to go to different countries and take on different challenges, continuing to grow and to evolve? Defending his own work, Gattuso pointed out his Milan and Napoli sides each missed the top four by one point, and that his Hajduk team this season were in with a shot at their first league title in 19 years going into the final weekend. All of which can be well and true, but in his new job there will be no grey area: only success or failure. For Italy to miss a third consecutive World Cup ought to be unthinkable, but the lopsided nature of their defeat by Norway, who have played two more games and won both, means even a perfect record from here on may only land them back into the playoffs from which they have failed to progress in each of the past two cycles. If the goal were only to make Italy a family again, Gattuso would have every chance of success. His presence at the podium alongside Buffon felt like a homecoming, albeit an understated one, the heroes of 2006 given their opportunity to lead. Journalists prefaced questions not with deferential honorifics but instead a familiar 'ciao Rino'. In the end, though, the requirements of this job remain the same as they always were. Gattuso needs to win, starting with his first game, at home to Estonia in September. This family is sick of losing. He will hear hard truths soon enough, and from more people than he may care to, if he cannot make it stop.
Toronto Star
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Canada to face Mexico, Denmark in Group A of Billie Jean King Cup playoff
TORONTO - Canada will take on Mexico and Denmark in a Billie Jean King Cup playoff from Nov. 14 to 16 in Monterrey, Mexico. The winner of the Group A round robin advances to the 2026 Qualifiers of the women's tennis tournament. The other two countries will play in Regional Group I next year.
Reuters
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Italy give sacked Spalletti winning send-off against Moldova
ITALY, June 9 (Reuters) - Sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side laboured to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova in their World Cup qualification match on Monday thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday, but took charge for one final time at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia. Italy struggled early on before Raspadori put the hosts ahead five minutes before the break and Cambiaso doubled the lead five minutes after the interval but they failed to build on their two-goal cushion. Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games.
South Wales Guardian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Luciano Spalletti to leave Italy head coach role after Moldova match
The 66-year-old announced the news during his press conference ahead of Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Spalletti came under pressure after his country's campaign began with Friday evening's 3-0 defeat away to Norway. Italy vs. Moldova will be Luciano Spalletti's last game as Azzurri head coach.#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 8, 2025 His imminent departure – after he takes charge of the Group I meeting with Moldova in Reggio Emilia – was later confirmed by the Italian Football Federation. 'I spoke with (federation president Gabriele) Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,' Spalletti told a press conference, according to The Athletic. 'I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. 'However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. Defeat in Oslo. #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 6, 2025 'I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.' Former Roma and Inter Milan coach Spalletti succeeded Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini as Azzurri boss in 2023 after guiding Napoli to the Serie A title. He has won only 11 of his 23 matches in charge of the national team and oversaw a last-16 exit to Switzerland at Euro 2024.
Leader Live
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Luciano Spalletti to leave Italy head coach role after Moldova match
The 66-year-old announced the news during his press conference ahead of Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Spalletti came under pressure after his country's campaign began with Friday evening's 3-0 defeat away to Norway. Italy vs. Moldova will be Luciano Spalletti's last game as Azzurri head coach.#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 8, 2025 His imminent departure – after he takes charge of the Group I meeting with Moldova in Reggio Emilia – was later confirmed by the Italian Football Federation. 'I spoke with (federation president Gabriele) Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,' Spalletti told a press conference, according to The Athletic. 'I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. 'However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. Defeat in Oslo. #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 6, 2025 'I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.' Former Roma and Inter Milan coach Spalletti succeeded Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini as Azzurri boss in 2023 after guiding Napoli to the Serie A title. He has won only 11 of his 23 matches in charge of the national team and oversaw a last-16 exit to Switzerland at Euro 2024.
