Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso says the World Cup play-off semi-final is the most important match of his career as his team aim to end a 12-year finals absence.

GENNARO Gattuso has labelled Italy’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland as the most important match of his coaching career.

The Azzurri host Northern Ireland on Thursday aiming to end a 12-year absence from the World Cup finals after missing the last two tournaments.

“Tomorrow is definitely the most important match of my career,” Gattuso told reporters.

He added that he is prepared and focused on thinking positively ahead of the crucial clash.

Gattuso admitted the match carries more weight for him now than the 2006 World Cup final he won as a player.

Italy have not played a World Cup knockout match since that triumph in Germany.

The pressure of ending that drought has been immense, with Gattuso joking he needs pills to sleep.

“That’s another world, I stopped playing years ago and I can’t even remember the matches I played,” said Gattuso.

He emphasised the greater responsibility he feels as a coach compared to his playing days.

Gattuso confirmed most of his squad are fit, with only Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Scamacca facing late fitness tests.

Striker Mateo Retegui returns to Bergamo, where he previously starred for Atalanta.

“We’ve spoken a lot about keeping calm, keeping things light and not thinking about it too much,” said Retegui.

The forward, now playing in Saudi Arabia, stressed that only a victory is acceptable for Italy.

A win would set up a final away to either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina next Tuesday.

 The Sun Malaysia