Will there be an upset? Northern Ireland look to stun Italy

[Getty Images] Italy's World Cup play-off semi-final with Northern Ireland has given Gennaro Gattuso sleepless nights. For four months now, Italy have known what stands between them and a first World Cup since 2014. Northern Ireland await in the play-off semi-final, and the winners will face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a place in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

For the four-time winners it seems almost unthinkable they would fall short. Yet the same was said four years ago against North Macedonia, and again against Sweden before that. For Northern Ireland and Michael O'Neill, it's an opportunity to achieve something special as they chase a first World Cup in 40 years.

NI boss O'Neill senses 'big opportunity' against Italy 'Northern Ireland have nothing to fear but everything to gain' Will 'risky' Gattuso lead Italy back to World Cup? Northern Ireland deserve Italy's respect - Buffon As a player, Gattuso did not sleep before big games. It's similar now he is a manager and he now has the aid of sleeping pills from his doctor.

Otherwise, he says, "at 4. 30 or 5am I wake up and I'm wide-eyed like a bat". Gattuso is carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders.