Italy - Northern Ireland: 2:45 AM friday, 27/3, Hanoi time.

In the lead-up to Italy's crucial World Cup 2026 playoff semifinal, defender Riccardo Calafiori has highlighted the intense dedication of coach Gennaro Gattuso. Calafiori, who plays for Arsenal, remarked that he has received "more calls from coach Gattuso than from my own mother" over the past few months. This personal approach is part of Gattuso's strategy to bolster the team's performance, which includes frequent phone calls and personal dinners with players.

Gattuso's hands-on method was evident recently when he, accompanied by team leaders Leonardo Bonucci and Gianluigi Buffon, traveled to London to dine with Calafiori. The defender described the dinner as "great," providing an opportunity to connect "like friends and shared many stories about football," especially during times when Calafiori was injured or had limited playing time.

Coach Gattuso (left) and Calafiori at a press conference in Italy before the match against Northern Ireland on 26/3. *Photo: Imago*.

Gattuso took charge of Italy in 9/2025, following the team's 0-3 loss to Norway in the first leg of their European Qualifiers Group I match. Under his guidance, the team achieved 5 consecutive wins. However, a 1-4 defeat to Norway in the return leg meant Italy finished second in the group, necessitating a playoff route to the World Cup.

Gattuso's squad will host Northern Ireland in the Group A playoff semifinal at the Bergamo stadium on 26/3. A victory would see them advance to face either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in the final.

Drawing on his experience with Arsenal, the 23-year-old Calafiori issued a warning regarding Northern Ireland's proficiency in scoring from set-pieces. He advised his teammates to be cautious of free kicks and rebounds, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of football.

Playoff matches have historically been a source of heartache for Italy, who famously missed out on the World Cup 2018 after a 0-1 aggregate loss to Sweden. They also suffered a 0-1 defeat to North Macedonia in the World Cup 2022 qualifier semifinals.

Calafiori is determined to help the national team overcome this difficult period. "Participating in the World Cup is a dream I've cherished since childhood, so I'm eager to play this match," he said. "But no matter how important it is, we just need to prepare as we would for any other normal game."

Thanh Quy (according to ESPN)