Gattuso begins Italy salvage operation with WC on the line

Gennaro Gattuso begins his reign as Italy coach on Friday with the visit of Estonia and a contested fixture with Israel as he bids to stop the Azzurri from missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.

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Italy are at risk of not qualifying for next year's finals in in the United States, Canada and Mexico after a troubled start to their campaign in June which cost Luciano Spalletti -- already under pressure from a dismal European title defence -- his job.

Gattuso, who was not first choice as coach and has a spotty record in club football management, has a mountain to climb ahead of his first match as national team coach in Bergamo.

Italy are nine points behind Group I leaders Norway after their first two qualifiers, one of them a 3-0 thumping at the hands of Erling Haaland and company.

Only top spot in the group gives automatic qualification to the World Cup and even though Italy have played two fewer games than Norway, their chances of finishing first look slim.

As well as the significant points gap Italy have a goal difference which is 12 worse than Norway, meaning that the playoffs, from which they failed to reach the last two tournaments, are the more realistic route for qualification.