Italy Prepares for Crucial Match Against Moldova in World Cup Qualifiers

CHISINAU, Moldova — As the clock ticks down to kickoff, Italy‘s head coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for their World Cup qualifying match against Moldova. The match is set to start at 8:45 PM local time, and it holds significance for Italy, who are on the brink of securing their playoff spot.

Gattuso addressed the media just minutes before the game, saying, ‘The team has shown an eagerness to come together and perform. Our players continually surprise us in this regard. At Coverciano, they have delivered impressive responses regardless of their club work,’ he stated during an interview with Sky.

The coach acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, emphasizing that teams must perform at their best on challenging pitches. ‘Coaching a national team is demanding and different from club work, but we have a lot of enthusiasm when engaging with the players. We will continue down this path,’ Gattuso said.

Before the game, Italy began their warm-ups. The official starting line-up includes goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with a defensive lineup of Valencia Bellanova, Gian Marco Mancini, Alessandro Buongiorno, and Andrea Cambiaso. In the midfield, Bryan Cristante and Sandro Tonali will support forwards Riccardo Orsolini, Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori, and Mattia Zaccagni.

On the opposing side, Moldova will employ a 5-3-2 formation, led by coach Aurel Popescu. Their lineup includes goalkeeper Igor Cojuhar and notable players like Igor Armaș and Radu Gînsari.

Prior to the match, Gattuso made it clear that despite Italy’s mathematical probability of qualifying for the playoffs, his focus is solely on the game at hand. ‘Honestly, my mind is on this match. I want to see the team’s growth and how they work together. I expect another strong performance,’ he reiterated.

The encounter is broadcast live on Rai 1 and streaming on Raiplay, ensuring fans can follow every moment as Italy aims for a decisive victory.