Gennaro Gattuso apologized to Italy fans after a crushing 4-1 defeat to Norway, acknowledging the team’s tendency to “get scared” and highlighting the critical need for a mental shift ahead of the impending World Cup play-offs.
Italy Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso apologized to fans after the embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Norway, admitting that the team “gets scared” and needs to change its mental approach ahead of the critical World Cup play-offs in March.
According to a report from Football Italia, Italy Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso issued a public apology to supporters following the team’s crushing 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Norway in their final Group I qualifier at San Siro on November 16, 2025.
The loss was described as “humiliating and painful” and featured a dismal second-half showing after an opener from Francesco Pio Esposito.
The defeat followed goals from an Erling Haaland brace, Antonio Nusa, and Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Azzurri knew the match would not change their fate, as they were “practically certain” to go to the play-offs, requiring an impossible 9-0 result to top the group.
Speaking to RAI Sport, Gattuso stated: “We first and foremost have to apologise to our fans, because 4-1 is a heavy result.”
He noted the stark contrast in performance between the halves: “It’s a pity, as the first half was very good, we were a real team, but the biggest disappointment is that the second half was not up to those standards.” He credited Norway but insisted Italy must “start again from the first half.”
The coach identified the mental weakness that emerged after the break. “We lost our shape… we started to lose the ball a bit too cheaply, give Norway some space to play in.
We lost the ball, misplaced passes and got pushed back, that’s what happened,” Gattuso replied.
Looking ahead to the World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, Gattuso concluded:
“We have to build on the first half, when we were solid, in the right positions, but as soon as the opponents create a chance, we start to get scared. That is where we have to change and improve, we got frightened.”