Italy will travel to Moldova for a match in the next round of the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers. Cristante, who plays for Roma in Serie A, stated that the team must deliver a convincing performance and be prepared to participate in the World Cup playoffs.

In the previous round, Italy defeated Israel 3-0 thanks to goals from Retegui and Gianluca Mancini.

It's worth noting that Italy currently sits in second place in Group I with 15 points, three points behind leaders Norway. However, Norway holds an advantage in goal difference, meaning Gattuso's team will likely need to participate in the playoffs to secure a place in the World Cup finals.

Italian midfielder Cristante, 30, said, "We want to win and play convincingly because the process of continuous growth is very important to us."

"However, it is not easy, because every game in Europe carries potential risks, especially against teams playing at home and eager to show their strength in front of their fans."

In addition, after the match against Moldova, Italy will host Norway at the San Siro Stadium in the final round of World Cup qualifiers.

Christant continued, "I think this will boost our confidence, and winning helps the team keep winning. We need to perform well so that we can be ready for the playoffs in March."

Speaking about new head coach Gattuso, Cristante said, "Whether as a player or now as a coach, he has that unwavering commitment. He has made history for the national team, and that passion is part of him, and he can naturally and strongly pass that spirit on to us."