Bastoni: ‘Gattuso gave Italy some slaps, we needed a wake-up call’

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Alessandro Bastoni admits Gennaro Gattuso gave Italy ‘determination, grit, and a fair few slaps, as perhaps we needed a wake-up call’ ahead of their 5-0 win over Estonia.

The Inter defender got a rare goal in the Azzurri jersey, popping up to meet the Giacomo Raspadori cross in the final minute on a short corner.

This completed the 5-0 rout in Bergamo, after a Mateo Retegui brace, plus goals from Moise Kean and Raspadori.

Bastoni sees fresh start for Italy under Gattuso

“I think these five goals come from our hunger and determination, quite aside from the technical quality,” Bastoni told Sky Sport Italia.

“The fact is, we’ve always had quality, but we have to bring it out and take responsibility on the field. It was a good test, aside from the level of the opponents, as we were concentrated, careful on preventative marking, determined in attack. We did well.”

It was the debut for new Italy coach Gattuso, who had taken over from sacked Luciano Spalletti in June after a dismal start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

“I never had Gattuso as a teammate, but I can imagine what that was like!” laughed Bastoni.

“He gives us so much determination and grit, a fair few slaps too, which perhaps we needed to have a wake-up call. I think we needed that lately.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Italy 5-0 Estonia

Does this feel like the start of a new and stronger era for the Nazionale?

“It’s too early to tell. We’ve had other games under different coaches where we thought that we were on the right path, only for the problems to re-emerge again. We’ll give it our all and hope to carry on like this.”

Gattuso radically changed from Spalletti with a 4-2-3-1 formation, or a 4-2-4 depending on how you look at it, with Retegui, Kean, Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Politano all together.

“I like it, as it’s three building out from the back, but when one goes up, we have to cover him. It’s early days, but we are happy with the signs from this game,” concluded Bastoni.

They are back in action on Monday evening against Israel, who are second in Group I and won 4-0 away to Moldova tonight.