Moise Kean on Italy's World Cup Qualifier Win: 'Felt the Whole Country on My Shoulders'

Following Italy's crucial 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final, striker Moise Kean expressed immense relief, stating he 'felt the weight of the entire nation' on his shoulders after scoring. He acknowledged, however, that securing a World Cup spot still requires 'one more game'.

The Azzurri entered the match under considerable pressure as heavy favorites. Despite their dominance, they had to wait until the 56th minute to break the deadlock with a well-placed strike from Sandro Tonali. Tonali then turned provider, assisting Kean for Italy's second goal. Kean deftly controlled the ball with his right foot, cut inside a defender, and fired a left-footed shot into the far bottom corner, sealing the win.

Kean Reflects on the Victory and Future Challenges

"There's just one more game to go; we need to take one final step, but we're feeling positive and must maintain our momentum," Kean told Sky Sport Italia after the match. "Northern Ireland proved to be a strong opponent, and perhaps we should have prepared for them a little more thoroughly. Our performance tonight was solid, and now our focus shifts entirely to the next challenge."

Since Gattuso took over from Luciano Spalletti, Italy has enjoyed a near-perfect run, winning all but one of their matches. However, this impressive form wasn't enough to secure first place in their qualifying group, which was claimed by Norway.

Kean praised his coach, highlighting the impact of Gattuso's passion: "The coach has so much love for the Azzurri shirt; he constantly motivates us never to give up."

Kean admitted that the pressure weighed heavily on him, fully aware that the Italian national team had heartbreakingly missed the last two editions of the World Cup, losing in play-offs in both 2018 and 2022. "I genuinely felt the whole country was relying on me, and scoring that goal was an incredible feeling. I hope to keep contributing to my team and my country," he shared. "We are a strong squad, and I am determined to continue playing my part."

The identity of Italy's opponent in the play-off final remains to be determined, as the match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina went into extra time after a late equalizer from Kean's former Fiorentina teammate, Edin Dzeko.