Italy`s national team goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, stated that the squad is dedicating special attention to fine-tuning defensive tactics for set-piece situations, an area they aim to improve before their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Estonia.
The match against Estonia is scheduled to commence at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT) at the Le Coq Arena in Tallinn.
Italy`s path to the 2026 World Cup now appears almost certain to involve the play-offs, especially after Norway decisively beat Israel 5-0 earlier this evening, a game that featured an Erling Haaland hat-trick despite the Manchester City striker missing two penalties.
Vicario Urges Italy to Maintain Self-Focus
“Frankly, we have no control over other match outcomes, so our sole focus must be on what we need to achieve, irrespective of other games. This approach remains absolutely unchanged for us,” Vicario informed RAI Sport.
Last month, Italy secured a 5-0 victory over Estonia in Bergamo, marking Gennaro Gattuso`s debut as coach. However, they only managed to break the deadlock close to the hour mark.
“In Bergamo, we started strongly and created numerous scoring opportunities. While we initially struggled to convert them, we eventually found our breakthrough after halftime,” Vicario elaborated.
“There can be various reasons for scoring or not, but we achieved victory then and hope to replicate that success tonight.”
Following that, Italy narrowly defeated Israel 5-4, a result that once again highlighted their persistent challenges in defending dead-ball situations.
“Modern football demands immense concentration, both in attack and defense. We are well aware that many goals today originate from set pieces, which is why we are diligently working on these specific details to enhance our performance,” emphasized the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper.
Although the Azzurri are still in the process of defining their identity, noticeable improvements have been observed since Gennaro Gattuso took over from Luciano Spalletti in July.
“Perhaps mentality is the most crucial aspect of all. The players are eager to participate, to stand united, and we have consistently demonstrated this. This is a dedicated group of players who deeply care about the national team, and we are determined to show that to everyone,” Vicario concluded.
