Overview
- Italy finished second to Norway and will learn its playoff path at Thursday’s Zurich draw, with a single‑leg semifinal on March 26 at home and a possible final on March 31 with home or away status determined by the draw.
- Gennaro Gattuso has launched a recovery plan that includes a requested 48‑hour February mini‑camp, sustained outreach to players through visits and dinners, and tactical consolidation around a two‑striker setup.
- The coach is leaning on key figures Gianluigi Donnarumma, Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, with Gigi Buffon assisting, after a 1‑4 collapse to Norway exposed defensive and psychological frailties.
- The federation is prioritizing a compact stadium to amplify home advantage, with Bergamo favored for the semifinal and Rome’s Olimpico under consideration if the final is drawn at home, with a return to Coverciano between ties.
- Betting markets have turned pessimistic, pricing Italy’s elimination shorter than qualification, while Sweden is viewed in coverage as the most dangerous potential opponent compared with Northern Ireland and Romania.