Florence, 23 March (LaPresse) – ‘This squad deserves some joy. I’ve worked hard to build this squad.’ So said Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso today in Florence at a press conference at the Coverciano training centre, where Italy are in camp preparing for their World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland, scheduled for Thursday 26 March at the Bergamo stadium. ‘We haven’t taken part in two World Cups,’ added Gattuso. ‘Now we need to take the pressure off the lads. We’ve worked hard over the past few months to become a team, to hold our own. We have a great opportunity.’