Moldova-Italy: the management of cautioned players in the two World Cup qualifying matches

Blue turnover. To measure the energy in view of the two matches in the space of 72 hours, to see at work the elements who have had fewer chances against Italy so far, but also to protect those who have been warned against a disqualification. Rino Gattuso, as an expert technician that he is, took every detail into consideration with a view to the future. Which for us means, 99%, playoffs in March for access to next summer’s World Cup. And one of the “particulars” is the management of yellow cards and disqualifications.

be wary

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We arrive at tonight’s match against Moldova without the suspended Barella, who in any case is part of the group that flew to Chisinau: tonight the Inter player will be in the stands cheering for his teammates, but on Sunday at San Siro against Norway he will be on the pitch from the first minute. Whether the match really counts for first place (in the event of a draw or victory for Estonia in Norway) or whether it counts little or nothing for the ranking (the overall goal difference, the first criterion for defining the final positions in the group, is clearly in favor of Haaland and his teammates). Then there are the three players who are within a ban, namely Cambiaso, Frattesi and Tonali: in the event of a yellow card this evening, they would be disqualified on Sunday against Norway, but would then be available for the first match of the playoffs in March. Cambiaso and Tonali will start against Moldova, Frattesi will start from the bench. If they don’t get a yellow card tonight, they won’t play on Sunday because they want to avoid getting a yellow card in a “useless” match for the standings. The situation would be different if Italy-Norway counted for qualification or if, after tonight’s matches, we found ourselves on equal points or -1 behind coach Solbakken’s team. In that case, no calculations and at San Siro there will be room for the best. Be wary or not.

reset

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At the end of the group, i.e. after Italy-Norway, the disciplinary situation will be reset in view of the playoffs. That is, if a player is warned, he will have his yellow cards canceled and, in the event of a warning in the first match of the playoffs, he will not face a one-match suspension. The situation is different in the case of disqualification: if Tonali, Cambiaso or Fratesi were not booked tonight, but played with Norway and received a warning, in that case they would not be able to play the first match of the play-offs, the one we will play with the advantage of home advantage (being in the first pot) against a fourth-tier team. And since we want to get to the top in March, that is, with all the players available (or at least without players forced to sit out for disciplinary reasons), Gattuso has done… his homework. Zero risks and maximum attention to the “potholes” on the road that must lead us to the World Championship.