Italian legend Daniele De Rossi predicts “there will be an uprising” if the nation fail to defeat Northern Ireland in Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final.

Having failed to qualify for the last two editions, Italy finished second in Group I behind Norway during qualifying and will have to earn their spot at the major tournament through the play-offs.

The pressure will certainly be on the former champions in Bergamo with Gennaro Gattuso’s side priced as overwhelming favourites to set up a decider against either Bosnia & Herzegovina or Wales.

Gattuso has named his star-studded squad for the tie with Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa returning to the international fold following a two-year absence, joining the likes of Sandro Tonali and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

placeholder image — Daniele De Rossi won the World Cup with Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

De Rossi, who is currently in charge of Serie A outfit Genoa, played 117 times for Italy and was part of a squad which celebrated World Cup glory in 2006, scoring his penalty in a shoot-out win over France.

He’s backing former team-mate Gattuso to lead Italy to victory across their next two matches – but predicts an angry reaction if they fail.

"As for the national team, we need to be less critical and more genuine fans,” he said in a press conference translated to English. “Those fans who give rather than take away.

"If things go badly, there will be an uprising and there will be time to talk about (Gabriele) Gravina, Gattuso, (Gianluigi) Buffon.

“Now we play against Northern Ireland and if we advance, against Wales and Bosnia, and I don't think they have better football schools than ours.

"Now we should stop making judgments and say a few more words to support Rino and his players, who in my opinion will play two great games."

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli).

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli).

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolo Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).

Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).