Daniele De Rossi explains what he brings to the Italy staff and why we mustn’t think about previous play-off failures when preparing for North Macedonia.
The World Cup play-off semi-final with North Macedonia kicks off at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The winners go on to face either Portugal or Turkey in the play-off final on Tuesday evening.
“These lads are champions of Europe, the future is the World Cup and we cannot let it get away,” De Rossi told RAI Sport.
Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing to Sweden in the play-offs, a night at San Siro that famously saw De Rossi on the bench complain he was being asked to warm up rather than teammate Lorenzo Insigne.
“I don’t want to talk about that play-off, that is a negative thought and we need to only focus on positive thoughts.
“It is also a different formula to the play-offs, as that was two legs, this is a one-off semi-final followed by a final, it’s also a very different team.
“We are coming off the Euros and have to build from there.”
De Rossi had left the Italy staff after the Euros, but returned for this event building up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“My role is to bring enthusiasm and joy, as well as that atmosphere of our magical summer together.”
Italia, De Rossi: “Il futuro è il Mondiale e non possiamo lasciarcelo scappare” https://t.co/TEbJdEEOa1
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