Gattuso relieved to reach World Cup play-off final: It was a struggle

Gennaro Gattuso conceded that he was relieved to see Italy get the job done against Northern Ireland and reach a play-off final for a spot at this summer's World Cup. 

Gattuso watched on as Italy emerged 2-0 victors at New Balance Arena on Thursday, with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean sealing the win for the Azzurri. 

Their reward is a clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina next Tuesday in Zenica, after Nikola Vasilj's penalty heroics sealed their 4-2 shoot-out win over Wales, after a 1-1 draw. 

This is the third consecutive World Cup qualifying campaign to see Italy feature in the play-offs. They lost 1-0 on aggregate against Sweden ahead of the 2018 finals, while they were eliminated 1-0 by North Macedonia in the semi-finals in 2022 in Palermo.

And Gattuso acknowledged the struggles his team encountered against Northern Ireland, having only been able to register two shots on target during a frustrating first half. 

"It was a struggle, this was not at all easy. They even surprised us, trying to make vertical passes. We could've done better," Gattuso told RAI Sport, as quoted by Football Italia. 

"There was concentration, [Manuel] Locatelli went too deep, we were not developing the play properly or the way we had prepared, but we did well, and it was not to be taken for granted.

"We were too slow, Locatelli was pushed back, but we moved the ball quicker after the break, and now we have to play the final.

"It's difficult, we knew this game was tough too, so now we must try to recharge the batteries."

Italy immediately improved after the break, with Kean forcing a smart stop from Pierce Charles before Tonali thundered an effort past the visiting goalkeeper in the 56th minute. 

Kean then sealed the win 10 minutes from time with a smartly taken finish after being teed up by Tonali. The Fiorentina forward has scored in each of his last five appearances for Italy (seven goals), becoming the first Azzurri player to score in five successive matches since Salvatore Schillaci in July 1990.

The pressure is on the four-time world champions, who have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, and Tonali said he felt nervous at points during Thursday's clash. 

"We've been feeling positive since the coach arrived, we've got to continue like this, there's no other option but to win," Tonali added. 

"I dedicate this goal to everyone, because we all deserve to go to the World Cup.

"We've done nothing yet, but it still feels like the most important goal of my career, along with one for AC Milan against Lazio."

For Northern Ireland, meanwhile, their wait for a first appearance at FIFA's flagship competition since 1986 goes on, but they did not go down without a fight. 

However, they have now lost all seven of their away games against Italy by an aggregate score of 18-2, failing to score in seven of those eight visits.

"I thought our shape for most of the game was excellent. We left everything out there, so I am proud of the lads," midfielder Ethan Galbraith said. 

"When you come against elite players, sometimes they do a bit of magic like they have done. We are disappointed but all proud of the performance."

And when asked if the team had grown, Galbraith added: "Massively. It is a very young group, so the future is bright for the lads.

"From when we started playing to now, I think you nailed it on the head, we have come a long way."