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He is the oldest member of the team after Leonardo Spinazzola, despite being only 32 years old. Matteo Politano is in his prime, and after having won two Scudetti with Napoli, it’s now time for him to truly establish himself with the national team as well. The World Cup is a dream that could become reality on Tuesday night in Bosnia and Herzegovina (kick-off 20:45 CEST, live on Rai 1, refereed by French official Clément Turpin): “It’s been our only focus for the past couple of months, to get to the World Cup,” he said in an interview with Vivo Azzurro TV. “We deserve it, but we have to prove it on the pitch. We all know what’s at stake. For me and a few others who aren’t so young anymore, it’ll probably be our last chance, and we really want to make the most of it.” Ten million Italians were cheering in front of their TVs on Thursday, and even more are expected for the final: “I ask the fans to keep supporting us. They should know we will give it everything to get to the final.”
AN ASSIST TO SETTLE NERVES. Named in Gattuso’s starting XI, he put in an excellent performance against Northern Ireland. It’s no coincidence that Tonali’s opening goal came from his cross: “It was crucial to shake off that weight we were carrying during the game. Especially in the first half, we were overthinking things. As soon as we got the goal to make it 1-0, we settled into the game. We’re happy to have reached this first target. We’re focused, and now we’ve got a few days to recover and prepare for the next battle.”
In Zenica, Italy will face freezing temperatures but also a stadium buzzing with fans ready to support the home side. “We need to start strong, and not let ourselves be affected by the opponents or the weather. We’re used to playing under pressure.” The team’s unity is one of the secrets behind this national side: “Our strength lies in always supporting each other, no matter the circumstances. I think it was clear even in the last match that we’re all moving in the same direction.”
THE BOND WITH GATTUSO. The connection with Gattuso began back in the days at Napoli, built on mutual respect and understanding: “He’s even more fired up than at Napoli. The coach really cares about the team and doesn’t tolerate selfishness. He’s a great motivator and always demands the best from everyone, both in matches and in training.”