Tonali on Italy’s Play‑off Win: ‘Most Important Goal of My Career’
Match context and Tonali’s reaction
On 26 March 2026, Sandro Tonali, Newcastle midfielder and Italy international, spoke to Sky Sport after the Azzurri secured victory in the World Cup qualifying play‑off semi‑final against Northern Ireland. He highlighted the “monsters” Italy had faced this week and stressed that, despite any fear, “it can happen”. Tonali added that the team had not yet thought about a possible final against Bosnia or Wales, focusing instead on enjoying the current win.
First‑half nerves and second‑half resolve
Tonali described the opening period as “tense, a bit nervous at times”, but praised the squad for shaking off those feelings in the second half. He emphasized the necessity of winning “at all costs” and the determination to achieve the goal by “any means necessary”.
Relationship with coach Gattuso
The midfielder said, “We have a good relationship, but he gets on well with everyone. We’re all connected through the manager; that’s one of the best things we’ve built up over the last few months.” He noted that the goal eased pressure and that Italy limited Northern Ireland’s set‑piece threats, despite a few early fouls.
The goal – a career milestone
“It’s the most important goal of my career so far, along with the one I scored against Lazio when I was at Milan.”
Tonali dedicated the strike to every fan, insisting that “everyone deserves to go to the World Cup”. He warned that “we haven’t achieved anything yet; there’s still a long way to go” and called for a 150 % effort in the next match to secure World Cup qualification.
- Date: 26 March 2026
- Opponent: Northern Ireland (World Cup qualifying play‑off semi‑final)
- Key player: Sandro Tonali (Newcastle midfielder)
- Highlight: Tonali’s description of his goal as the most important of his career
