Capello: Italy got the best possible set of results in World Cup play-off semi-finals

Fabio Capello feels that Italy showed ‘pride’ and that they ‘put their soul’ into Thursday night’s 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, and feels that the Azzurri got the best possible set of results from the World Cup play-off semi-finals. 

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News – Free Trial – Click Here

Gennaro Gattuso and his players took a step towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-final in Bergamo on Thursday night. 

The Azzurri have set up a final date with Bosnia, who beat Wales on penalties in Cardiff just after the Italy vs. Northern Ireland game had come to an end. The decider will be played in Bosnia on Tuesday night. 

Capello: ‘I was screaming like a madman, Wales would have been a more difficult obstacle for Italy’

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport after Italy’s victory against Northern Ireland, Capello admitted that he: “was screaming like a madman on the sofa. For me, the national team is much more than any other team.” (via TMW)

Capello feels that Italy were too slow and that they did not play with enough intensity during the first half, and says that Northern Ireland: “put their bodies and focus into it. For a long time, they didn’t allow us to have any fluidity in the final 30 metres and so we struggled to create any danger.” 

As a result of their victory against Northern Ireland, Italy have set up a final clash away against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night.

• Read more: Dimarco and Italy teammates divide opinions after celebrating Bosnia penalty win

Capello says that the upcoming opponents have: “Good technique and are definitely superior to Northern Ireland. But I have to be honest, in terms of spirit and pace, Wales would have been a more difficult obstacle, especially at their home.” 

Capello also gave his thoughts on one of his former ‘students’, Gattuso, who now has five wins and two defeats from his seven matches in charge of the national team. 

“I thought he looked a bit tense, which is normal, but also quite fired up on the bench” Capello said. “We saw a national team that put its soul into it and fought for it. As an Italian, I know well that we’ve had stronger teams in the past, of course, but what I can’t tolerate is a lack of pride, of competitiveness.”