A Wicked Twist: Gattuso Steps Up as Italian National Team's Savior Amid Ranieri and Pioli's Refusals
Retired Italian football manager Ranieri.
In a shocking turn of events, Italy's World Cup hopes hang in the balance, with top contenders Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli declining the venerable position. Now, former AC Milan champion coach, Gennaro Gattuso, has taken the helm as the Commissario Tecnico, stepping up to lead the ailing Italian squad.
The 59-year-old Stefano Pioli, currently keeper of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr FC club, and record World Cup winner Carlo Ancelotti were previous leading candidates to revive Italy's football glory. However, both Pioli and Ranieri wasted no time turning down the National Football Federation's offers.
After Ranieri's deliberate decision to remain a consultant for AS Roma, the spotlight has shifted to Gennaro Gattuso, who has been appointed as the new head coach. The move comes after a prolonged period of uncertainty following Luciano Spalletti's departure and the rejections by Ranieri, Pioli, and other hopefuls such as Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi.
Ranieri's Unlikely Return to the Bench
In a sequence of surprising events, Ranieri had previously come out of retirement to briefly coach AS Roma during the previous season. The 73-year-old veteran had been identified as the top candidate to replace Spalletti, but he chose instead to commit to AS Roma as a consultant.
Under Spalletti's leadership, Italy narrowly secured a 2:0 (1:0) win against Moldova, world-ranked 154th, in their last World Cup qualifier. With Moldova posing a significant threat on counter-attacks, the victory strengthened Italy's chance for a spot in the World Cup 2026, pending in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Italy Continues its Turbulent Journey
With Gattuso steering the ship, Italy must now strive to improve upon its shaky performance and secure its position in the World Cup 2026. Despite Norway leading the group with a nine-point advantage, only the group winner guarantees a World Cup ticket, and the second-placed team contends with playoffs.
[1]: ntv.de, ara/dpa/sid
Amid the rushing waves of Italy's bid for the World Cup 2026, community policies and employment policies might play a pivotal role in shaping the team's roster, considering the tough competition stemming from both the first division and potential playoffs. On the field, the national team pays utmost importance to maintaining a high-performing squad, while off the field, one might find Coach Gattuso leading the charge in sports such as football.
