Italy’s head coach Rino Gattuso addressed concerns regarding the state of the pitch prior to the World Cup playoff final against Bosnia.
The Azzurri were compelled to practice in Florence on Monday, as the scheduled stadium was unplayable due to snow, preventing its use for training purposes.
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While the pitch conditions could affect the match, Gattuso remained focused and noted that both teams would encounter the same difficulties. Italy isn’t the only side facing a challenging pitch.
The Azzurri manager commented – as quoted by TMW: “We shouldn’t focus on that. It’s an excuse. If the pitch is poor, it affects both teams; the match must go on. Obsessing over the pitch or the stands is a sign of weakness.”
Gattuso assured that the pitch is in playable condition and reflected on his past experiences with subpar fields during his time at Hajduk.
“I’ve seen the pitch, and it’s fine. I spent a year nearby, so I’m familiar with the conditions. The worse pitches were the ones I played on with Hajduk. Honestly, even if it were bad, there’s little we can do. We need to focus on the quality of their team.”
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In addition to the pitch concerns, the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica will have a limited attendance, allowing only 9,000 fans due to a restriction imposed following incidents between spectators during a match involving Bosnia and Romania.
Kaustubh Pandey – GIFN