Gattuso prioritising 'right mentality' as Italy prepare for World Cup play-off

[p]With the spectre ‌of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gattuso-gennaro/4KygbMf9/"]Gattuso[/a] knows ‌his players must overcome the mental weakness that has ‌plagued [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a]'s World Cup ambitions.[/p][p]Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualification ‌failure, the Italians have managed only one victory at a ‌World Cup, a 2-1 group-stage win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time.[/p][p][b]"We must be ‌able to make the players feel lighter,"[/b] Gattuso told reporters ⁠at Italy’s Coverciano training base ‌on Monday.[/p][p][b]"Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups... but there ​is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros and played in Champions ​League finals. They are accustomed to these games."[/b][/p][p][b]"There are no excuses; we must only think about Thursday’s game," [/b]Gattuso said.[b] "We must ⁠have the right ​mentality and serenity. We respect the opponents... but we must be clear-headed and smell the danger."[/b][/p][embed guid="cecdcfc1-ad2f-47b3-88e7-773f1e84d452" url="https://x.com/Azzurri_En/status/2036116230529032415" social-type="twitter" /][p]Should they get past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/northern-ireland/lQADNSWu/"]Northern Ireland[/a] they would face a final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wales/YcUP0Nqp/"]Wales[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia & Herzegovina[/a] on March ‌31 to qualify for the showpiece tournament in North America.[/p][p]Gattuso confirmed that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chiesa-federico/jHMlMUC4/"]Federico Chiesa[/a] had left the camp.[/p][p][b]"He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was useless for him to stay here,"[/b] Gattuso said. [b]"When I heard that he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s ‌right to let him do it."[/b][/p][p]Gattuso revealed he personally chose the ​23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for ‌the clash, admitting he feared the "caustic" atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early.[/p][p][b]"At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes,"[/b] Gattuso explained. [b]"I want to create a real cauldron-like ⁠atmosphere. Thursday’s game is ⁠the only target. All the ‌rest is the past."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/italy-hlKvieGH/northern-ireland-lQADNSWu/?mid=v7ssLzeU"]Follow Italy's semi-final clash here.[/a][/p]