Analysis: Gattuso's "The Italian Job"

In a storyline worthy of The Italian Job, Gennaro Gattuso inherits a fractured Italian squad and a fading World Cup dream, hoping to engineer a turnaround with grit and urgency.

by sportswriter Wei Hua

BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) -- In the classic film The Italian Job, Michael Caine's character pulls off a seemingly impossible heist through clever tactics. Now, in Italian football, newly appointed head coach Gennaro Gattuso faces a daunting mission of his own: reviving Italy's fading World Cup hopes.

Gattuso replaces Luciano Spalletti, who stepped down after a 3-0 defeat to Norway in Italy's opening World Cup qualifier. Although Italy responded with a 2-0 victory over Moldova, Spalletti had already confirmed his resignation in a press conference before the match.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has nearly three months before the next international break in September, but Spalletti's sudden departure left the federation scrambling to find a replacement.

Two of Italy's most prominent active coaches, Simone Inzaghi and Carlo Ancelotti, had already signed with new teams just weeks earlier. Inzaghi joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, while Ancelotti took over Brazil's national team. At his introductory press conference, Ancelotti revealed that the FIGC "had never invited him," and even if they had, his high salary expectations would have complicated negotiations.

Among other potential candidates named in Italian media, Claudio Ranieri ruled himself out, declaring he wanted to remain committed to his beloved Roma. Outgoing Al-Nassr coach Stefano Pioli was reported to prefer a return to Fiorentina. In comparison, Gattuso, with his more solid resume and strong presence, ultimately earned the FIGC's confidence.

Italy currently sits third in Group I after two qualifiers, trailing group leader Norway by nine points following four straight Norwegian wins. Only group winners from UEFA qualification advance directly to the World Cup, while second-place finishers must go through a playoff - a fate that has twice doomed Italy, keeping the Azzurri out of the last two World Cups.

Given the urgency, appointing Gattuso is a bold move by both sides. For the former AC Milan midfielder and 2006 World Cup winner, the task is immediate: get results quickly. But his biggest challenge may not lie on the tactics board.

Under Spalletti, Italy defeated top-tier teams like France and Belgium during the Nations League group stage, proving its potential. But the squad's intensity faded afterward. The loss to Norway was one-sided, and even the win over Moldova was unconvincing. Compounding matters, veteran defender Francesco Acerbi declined a call-up, hinting at possible unrest within the dressing room.

To many observers, Italy's current crisis stems more from a lack of mentality than tactics. A four-time world champion, Italy needs a figure who can command respect and inject passion. Gattuso, known for his tenacity and fighting spirit as a player, now has the chance to instill those same traits into his squad.

Former Milan teammate Cafu echoed that sentiment: "Gattuso has the right grit for Italy. He is someone who can even grab players by the ear and drag them over, he is the right man," the Brazilian legend told Football Italia.

Gattuso now faces an uphill battle, but also a major opportunity. Of the 23 players in Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, more than half have ventured into coaching, but none have made a lasting impact. Even Andrea Pirlo, his iconic midfield partner, ended all three of his coaching stints on disappointing terms.

If Gattuso can guide Italy back to the World Cup final stage after a 12-year absence, it would mark a turning point in his managerial career - and silence doubts that he and his generation are, as some have suggested, "losers" in the dugout. ■