Tonali's breakfast-table dream pays off for childhood idol Gattuso in Italy's World Cup playoff win
ROME (AP) — Sandro Tonali scoring the decisive goal for Gennaro Gattuso’s beleaguered Italy in the World Cup playoffs was a dream that began at the midfielder's breakfast table as a kid. Every morning Tonali used to drink from a teacup featuring images of Gattuso on it. “That was my routine for many years.
Then one day the cup broke and I begged my mother to glue it back together,” Tonali said. “When it was glued back together I had to leave it on a shelf. One day I’ll bring it to (Gattuso) and have him sign it.
” Gattuso should be more than happy to sign it now — after Tonali scored one goal and set up another in the 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in the European playoff semifinals on Thursday. Playing in Gattuso’s former central midfield position and wearing his idol’s No. 8, Tonali broke the deadlock with a half-volley early in the second half and then set up another goal for Moise Kean.
“It was the most important goal of my career,” Tonali said. Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia , respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups, and was unable to reach the knockout rounds at the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. The four-time world champion has not been a threat at soccer’s biggest event since Gattuso was the beating heart of the 2006 team that claimed the Azzurri’s last title.
“I was six but I remember it all very clearly,” Tonali told UEFA. com in October. “It’s probably the only thing I remember from when I was a kid.