Gattuso's Slap in the Face After Defeating Estonia Wakes Italy Up

BERGAMO, SATURDAY – As predicted by many, Italy was able to overcome Estonia's resistance with a decisive score of 5-0. However, this significant victory is not the main reward for Gennaro Gattuso's sweet debut as the coach of the "Azzurri." More than that, the Italian players realize that fighting spirit is also greatly needed to end the failure to qualify for the World Cup.

An anomaly has struck Italy in the last two editions of the World Cup. Despite being reinforced by many quality players, Italy has consistently failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022. The specter of that failure resurfaced after a crushing 0-3 defeat to Norway in the opening match of the qualifiers.

Although they succeeded in securing a victory against Moldova in the second match, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) decided to replace coach Luciano Spalletti with Gattuso. One of the reasons Gattuso was entrusted with this significant responsibility, despite his limited international experience, is the character he possesses.

During his playing days, Gattuso was known as a midfielder who did not know compromise. His playing style was rather tough, but he did all of this to stop the movements of opponents while also providing protection to the defenders. His relentless character and strong desire to win every match are what he aims to instill in the current Italian players.

"As I have always said, this team is indeed of high quality. However, quality alone will not be enough. This team must give their all with determination, fight for the ball, press hard, and show hunger, and I believe we all witnessed that today," said Gattuso after the match at Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy, Saturday (6/9/2025).

He gave us so much determination and courage, as well as a few slaps, which we probably needed as a warning.

Gattuso is convinced that relying solely on quality will not lead the "Azzurri" to advance far. In a tournament as significant as the World Cup and its qualifications, the difference in mentality will have a substantial impact. This event does not allow players any room for even the smallest mistakes.

In addition to his hardworking nature, Gattuso is also widely known for his temperamental character. On several occasions, Gattuso has been seen slapping his players who do not perform at their best. This was also experienced by striker Giacomo Raspadori.

Through his coaching style, Gattuso delivered a slap that ultimately woke the players up to the fact that Italy needed to wake up from its slumber. "He gave us so much determination and courage, as well as a few slaps, which we probably needed as a wake-up call. I think we've needed that lately," said Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, as quoted by Football Italia.

Bastoni's statement is not an exaggeration. Passion and fighting spirit are indeed essential for a team to qualify for the World Cup. Having talented players with adequate quality is important, but all of that will be in vain if they do not demonstrate perseverance on the field.

The most relevant example is to observe what happened in Germany. Despite being populated by many top players, Germany surprisingly succumbed to Slovakia in another qualifying match. The German coach, Julian Nagelsmann, highlighted the lack of passion and fighting spirit from the players, which resulted in three consecutive defeats.

Gattuso's presence has made Italy bold enough to present a different style compared to the Spalletti era. In addition to the tenacity in every effort to defend and score goals, changes are also evident in the formation used. Spalletti favored a three-defender formation, while Gattuso is less suited to that system.

Against Estonia, Gattuso employed a 4-4-2 formation. Mateo Retegui and Moise Keane partnered in the front line. This marked the first time for both strikers to appear together in the Italian jersey.

Retegui and Keane are supported by four midfielders: Mattia Zaccagni, Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella, and Matteo Politano. The four defensive positions are filled by Riccardo Calafiori, Federico Dimarco, Bastoni, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

When attacking or controlling the ball, Italy's formation changed to 2-3-5. Gattuso attempted to utilize the width of the field to pressure Estonia from the flanks. He also felt that the 4-4-2 formation was suitable to accommodate the abundance of available Italian forwards.

Despite taking the initiative to attack from the start and creating numerous golden opportunities, Italy was only able to break the deadlock in the second half. Italy's opening goal was scored thanks to a header from Keane, who connected with a pass from Dimarco. Italy doubled their lead in the 69th minute through a shot from Retegui, who skillfully maneuvered in tight spaces.

Conceding two goals shattered the confidence of the Estonian players. As a result, Italy extended their lead with a header from Raspadori. With a three-goal advantage, Italy was increasingly in control. They added more goals through the actions of Retegui and Bastoni.

"We knew we'd have to take some risks, leaving ourselves in one-on-one situations on the counterattack because we had so many attackers on the pitch. It was important to dribble down the flanks, attacking their defense, and we were unlucky not to score early. I congratulate the players, because over the past three days we've had a fantastic training atmosphere," said Gattuso, as quoted by Sky Sport Italia.

Although victorious, the additional three points have not been able to elevate Italy's position to fourth place in Group I. Italy has accumulated six points from three matches, trailing behind Israel in second place, which has gathered nine points. However, Italy has one match less compared to Israel.

Gattuso's skill will be put to a tougher test in the next match against Israel. This match is predicted to be a tight one, as the runner-up spot in Group I is at stake. With five matches remaining, Gattuso cannot afford to drop a single point to end Italy's two consecutive World Cup failures.