Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has again said he’d prefer if his team didn’t have to play Israel in World Cup qualifying.
Before a 5-4 win over Israel in Hungary a month ago Gattuso said he was ‘sorry to have Israel in the group’ but said it was their ‘duty to play the match’.
The comments took some headlines, but he hasn’t shied away from them ahead of the return match in Udine where large protests are expected outside of the stadium.
“We know we have to play this match, otherwise we would lose 3-0,” he began.
“But I will say it again: it is very sad to see what is happening to these innocent people, to these children, it is heartbreaking to see all this.
“The atmosphere will not be calm, because there will be 10,000 people outside the stadium and 5,000 to 6,000 inside.
“We want to qualify for the World Cup and I would have preferred to play this match at home in front of an enthusiastic crowd like we did a month ago in Bergamo (during the 5-0 victory against Estonia).”
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