Italys coach, Gennaro Gattuso , has expressed profound distress regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, an issue that precedes the teams upcoming, high-tension 2026 World Cup qualifier against Israel in Udine next Tuesday.
The Azzurri will first face Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday, but attention has turned to their upcoming home match against Israel, which comes amid widespread pro-Palestinian demonstrations across Italy.
On Friday, demonstrators gathered outside Italy's national training centre in Florence, calling for the game to be cancelled as part of a nationwide strike in support of Palestinians.