Riccardo Montolivo, the former Italy midfielder, has voiced his concern regarding the mental well-being of Gennaro Gattuso’s squad ahead of the World Cup playoff final against Bosnia on Tuesday. He urges the players to approach the game with a sense of freedom rather than anxiety.
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In an interview with Sky Sport, Montolivo highlighted Italy’s shaky start against Northern Ireland as a cause for concern.
“I am quite worried about the morale of our players,” he remarked. “The team needs to avoid the tension they exhibited in the Northern Ireland game; they should play more freely. This is crucial, especially since we will be playing away. The coach must focus on improving the players’ mindset.”
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter warms up before the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
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Montolivo: ‘I’d like to see Pio Esposito start for Italy’
When discussing potential lineup changes, Montolivo expressed his support for Pio Esposito to start the match. “I would like to see him from the first minute,” he said, although he acknowledged that substitutes can often have a significant impact.
In the midfield, Montolivo saw no reason to alter the current setup, defending Manuel Locatelli despite some early challenges against Northern Ireland. “He’s having an excellent season and rightfully deserves his place in the lineup,” he stated. “He faced some initial difficulties the other night, but that was purely a tactical adjustment issue.” He suggested that any changes should be positional rather than personnel-related.