Italy at the 2026 World Cup, all the streets of Gattuso

Six points. Even ugly, dirty and bad, but all and immediately to hope. Six points aa September against Estonia and Israel, for us as two finals. There will be four more, of finals, between October and November. Winning them all is not said to guarantee the first place. “It will be difficult,” said Gattuso in Gravina. It will be mandatory to try. The new CT, the collective call, the restart projects: it is the moment of the honeymoon, of dreams. In September it will be time for points.

situation

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In the standings we are in third place, Israel is also in front but with an extra race. Our minimum goal is to remain in the wake of Norway. We have six games again. In September Estonia (Bergamo) and Israel (on the neutral of Debracen, Hungary). A month after the virtual return matches against Estoni (Tallin) and Israelis (possible Udine). He closes in November against Moldova (Chisinau) and finally Norway, a grand finale, probably in Rome.

objective

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We must reach Italy-Norway, on November 16, with 18 points. That evening Haaland, who can win them all, will be at 21. We can sportly hope that he sets off here and there, after all the 1-0 stunned in Estonia some hope infuses it, but we think of the worst scenario. We will therefore have to beat the Norway and hope for the difference goal, decisive in case of equal points. We are not very well: they +11, we -1.

scenarios

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What can happen? 1) First place: we are qualified in the World Cup, we participate in the draw (in December in the USA, it seems), we are perhaps standard heads in one of the 12 groups entering the first 9 of the FIFA ranking. 2) Second place: let’s go to the playoffs. 3) From third place down: we are out, unless they fetch us in the playoffs thanks to the Nations.

Removed?

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We did not win the Nations group, so we have 14 teams in front of this “last beach”. Many of those who precede us, however, will end up at the first or second place in their world group and therefore do not worry. They are, in order: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czechia, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Nord Ireland, Moldova and San Marino. The last two precede us for sure, because they cannot qualify in their respective groups, the others who knows.

playoff

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Given that third place would be a disaster, we are talking about playoffs in which 12 seconds and 4 from the Nations participate. These 16 teams will be divided to the draw (late November) in 4 bands: the 12 seconds ordered according to the FIFA ranking, we should certainly be in the first band from standard heads; In the last band the 4 of Nations. 4 mini-tabelloni with 4 teams will be made up. It is important to be in the first band to face in the semifinal, at home, on March 26, one of the alleged “small” (always remembering the trick of Macedonia …). Then, in the final, the winner of another semifinal. And here, among the potential seconds, Türkiye and Slovakia would not be pleasant customers. Left on March 31, home to draw. Two dates, those of March, which would be nice to dedicate to the qualified friendlies.

draw

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Speaking of draws: that of the final phase does not yet have a date, but it should be in the US in the first half of December. For the first time 48 finalists will participate, no more 32 So always forward for ranking to the last band, in which 6 “x” will also be inserted. The playoffs are played on 26 and 31 March 2026. Consequence? At the draw in December the 4 European Championships will be 4 “x” in the last band, where we will find 2 more “x”: the 2 winners of the play -offs between 6 teams of the other continents (2 North America, 1 South America, 1 Asia, 1 Africa, 1 Oceania), also in March. No additional European: 16 is the maximum granted, for 2030 something will be proposed. Just as someone (Uruguay) has meanwhile asked to enlarge the 2030 edition of 64 teams. A heresy like playing every two years: it would be the end of the sacredness of the World Cup.