Italy vs Northern Ireland: From ‘risky’ to ‘hero’ – can Gennaro Gattuso lead the Azzurri back to the World Cup?

After woes in qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Italy face another nerve-wracking road to the finals.

No previous World Cup winner has missed three consecutive finals. Italy must do it the hard way if it wants to avoid an unwanted piece of history.

The Azzurri host Northern Ireland – a tie they will be favorites to win – in Bergamo on March 26, and the winner of the semi-final will visit either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in their bid to qualify for the finals, where they will join co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar in Group B.

“It will not be easy, not at all,” saddened Ferri, who added that there was a problem “with the speed of the game” in Italy.

“I don’t think Northern Ireland are a better team than Italy, but it won’t be easy with their pace and determination, and it won’t be easy against Wales or Bosnia.

“We definitely have the quality to qualify, but we have to be careful in one match.”

For Gattuso, the play-off could also determine whether he is the long-term option for one of Europe’s heavyweight clubs.

Lose and “it may be time to think again”, but win and he could be the “champion” that returns Italy to the biggest stage.

“Italy has been to the World Cup finals four times, so there is still an expectation to compete in every match,” Ferri said.

“People can’t be happy with the situation and how it is, but that’s not the case with Gattuso.

“If he doesn’t qualify it might be difficult for him, but if we qualify we will be very happy and Gattuso will be very popular in the country.”