The coach of the Italian national team, Gennaro Gattuso, has put himself in a difficult position following his recent statements about the World Cup qualifying system, which sparked a wave of international criticism. Gattuso has decided to remain completely silent on the matter on the eve of the crucial match between Italy and Norway. This move comes as an attempt to ease the anger caused by his remarks about the unfairness of the qualification system, especially in comparison to other continents.

After Italy's victory over Moldova, Gattuso stated that the current qualification system does not seem fair, pointing out that winning six out of seven matches might not be enough for direct qualification, while other teams qualify with lesser performances. He was particularly surprised by the qualification system in South America, where six teams qualify directly, whereas the task for European teams appears more complicated.

The coach's statements did not go unnoticed and were met with widespread discontent in the global football community, especially in Africa and South America. Many considered his remarks to be unsportsmanlike and believed he should focus on his team's performance instead of comparing qualification systems. Gattuso said in a press conference that he had heard people in South America calling him a "crybaby," emphasizing that such things are not easily forgotten.

As the crucial match against Norway approaches, Gattuso understands that his team's focus must be entirely on the field. With Italy's chances of direct qualification looking very slim—they would need a miracle by winning with a nine-goal margin—attention turns to Italy potentially having to go through the playoffs for the third consecutive time. This situation increases the pressure on the coach and players as they strive to save their World Cup qualification campaign.