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Giovanni Di Lorenzo has made it clear: Italy must not miss the World Cup for a third time in a row. Speaking at a press conference just days before the crucial qualifier against Norway (Friday, 8:45 PM), the Napoli captain shared a message of urgency and determination.
“I want to play the World Cup in the U.S. because we didn’t qualify for the last two". said Di Lorenzo. “It’s not just about me—it's about all my teammates. There are 10-year-old kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup, and that should move us. I’ll say it again: Italy cannot afford to miss the World Cup three times in a row".
Looking ahead to the matchup in Oslo, Di Lorenzo highlighted the importance of teamwide defensive organization, especially against a powerhouse like Erling Haaland.
“We can’t defend against Haaland one-on-one. We’ll need to defend as a unit,” he said. Despite carrying a minor knock, the defender confirmed his intent to play: “I’ve got a little issue lingering ahead of Friday, but I want to be there, and I’ll play".
He also reflected on Napoli’s title-winning season, describing it as a hard-fought triumph that went down to the wire.
“Winning the title by just one point on the final day made it even more special. It was a Scudetto of fatigue, of struggle, of never giving up. As for Conte, I never believed he’d leave. I saw the rumors, but I didn’t buy them. I’m glad he’s staying—we need continuity".
