Materazzi: “Italy, an easy group. Now the playoffs without fear. But if we don’t go…”

“We had the easiest group. But now we have to go to the World Cup.” Marco Materazzi gets straight to the point and, commenting on the Washington draw, thinks a bit about the playoffs in March and a bit about what he managed to create with Marcello Lippi’s Italy in Germany. Between his national champions in 2006 and Italy today there are twenty years in between, two missed World Cups, an ocean of regrets and another question mark, because the pass to the United States, Canada and Mexico is still to be conquered. “We have two games between us and the World Cup and we need to win both.”

Canada, Qatar, Switzerland in “our” Group B: the worst opponent?

“Canada, because they are one of the host teams. It’s never easy to face a national team that plays at home. But also watch out for Qatar… It will be one of those selections that will do everything to make their country proud.”

Switzerland, on the other hand, takes us back to the defeat that knocked us out of the last European Championship…

“They play football and they play well. But beating them could be a revenge on that match. However, I think they are among the “softest” European opponents that could have come our way. I repeat, this draw didn’t go badly, on the contrary…”.

What will it take to win the playoffs and qualify?

“Being united, even in adversity. Nothing should be taken for granted, the players on the pitch will have to give everything and above all play without fear. We saw it the last time with Macedonia: every little detail can make the difference or cost a lot.”

As a former defender: will the solidity back there be more decisive or a ruthless attack?

“Just the group. The boys will have to be good at staying together and playing at their best.”

Do you know Gattuso well, what has he given and what will he still give to Italy in view of the play-offs?

“As a coach he has always given a game to his teams. As for his character, we all know him. I hope he is the right man to take us back to the World Cup. It would be nice for him, but more generally for all of Italy who would finally return to play this competition from which we have been missing for too long. However, I think that if we don’t go it won’t be his fault.”

Have you heard it recently?

“I saw him at the draw for the playoffs. He was very concentrated, he had his usual determination. Rest assured, he will never lack that.”

If you could say something to the Azzurri who have to play for the playoffs, as world champions, what would you say in the locker room?

“To play without fear and go strong straight away. Challenges of this type must be won immediately and we must not make the mistake we made against Macedonia, when we conceded a goal in the 90th minute. At that point you no longer have time to make amends.”

What would it mean not to go to the World Cup?

“A failure of Italy’s football and above all of the system. If we don’t qualify for three consecutive editions someone should raise their arm and say: «Sorry, I’ll stop bothering you because I’m not capable»”.

Before starting the 2006 World Cup, what were those Italy’s future champions thinking about?

“He only thought about taking the field together in every match. It was a team of friends who got along well together. And then he had great quality.”