Dino Zoff has backed Italy to make the World Cup, but he issued a clear warning ahead of the playoff semi-final with Northern Ireland: being better on paper is not the same as winning on the night. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, the 1982 World Cup winning goalkeeper stressed that belief will be decisive in these tight matches.
Stronger on paper, if they play like Italy
"If we play like Italy, we will definitely go through," Zoff said. He pointed out Italy's advantages: more quality, better players and greater experience. He named Northern Ireland, Wales and Bosnia as the other playoff contenders and made the hierarchy clear. Still, he warned: "These are special games, whoever believes more wins. So we must believe more. Otherwise..." He did not finish that last thought.
Stay focused and calm
Zoff was blunt about mindset. "You must not think about it," he said when asked about the pressure. Fear is useless, he argued. Players need concentration, a clear head, conviction and a calm awareness of their strengths. His simple instruction: do not assume you have already won or already lost. Step onto the pitch and give everything, with your head held high.
What 1982 taught him
Zoff pointed to his own 1982 side as proof that blocking out outside noise can work. That team isolated itself from distractions and did not have many believers, yet they succeeded. He used that memory to underline his message: focus inward and ignore the noise.
Advice for Gattuso
When it came to coaching tips for Gennaro Gattuso, Zoff kept it short and clear. Trust your own judgment and pay no mind to outside voices, including social media. His final piece of counsel was very direct: "Only to do what he thinks is best."
