Coach Gennaro Gattuso begins the mission to save the Italy national football team and avoid missing the FIFA World Cup finals for the third consecutive time today, hosting Estonia in the European qualifiers.

Italy faces the risk of not qualifying for next year’s finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico after a shaky start in June that cost Luciano Spalletti his position as head coach of the Azzurri.

Gattuso was not the first choice as coach, as he has a mixed record managing club football, and he faces a tough task before his official debut as national team coach in Bergamo.

Italy trails Norway by nine points, who top Group 9 with a perfect record in four matches.

The group leader secures direct qualification to the World Cup, and although Italy has played two fewer matches than Norway, its chances of finishing first in the qualifiers seem slim.

In addition to the large points gap, Italy has a goal difference 12 goals worse than Norway, meaning the playoffs, which Italy failed to reach in the last two editions, are the more realistic path to qualification.

Gattuso said: “I want to see a sense of belonging, readiness to sacrifice, and acceptance of hearing uncomfortable truths from our teammates. We cannot allow fear to creep into our minds.”