Italian football has hit an unprecedented low point this season. Across Europe, no club from Italy advanced beyond the quarter‑finals, and the only Serie A side to make it to the Champions League round of 16 was Atalanta. Yet the domestic league’s struggles pale in comparison to the national team’s recent woes. For the first time since 2018, Italy failed to qualify for a World Cup, missing out on a third consecutive tournament.
This is a shocking development for a nation that has lifted the trophy four times. The previous two qualification failures were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 on home soil, a triumph that offered a glimmer of hope.
The latest disappointment, however, proved too much. The 48‑team World Cup that excluded Italy triggered a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina quit, and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon relinquished his role as team delegate. "It’s a painful subject for me because missing three World Cups in a row is unacceptable, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve this," captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports. In response, the Azzurri have turned to a familiar face.
Roberto Mancini, the architect of the 2020 European Championship victory, has been re‑appointed as head coach. "We have to work. The only way forward is to work," Donnarumma added. "With a new coach and the return of Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the place it rightfully belongs." He continued, "I know it’s difficult for the fans, but especially for us, because we understand how much it means to compete in a World Cup.
We will give everything to restore Italy to its historic standing. History has taught us that we belong at the top, and we must make that a reality again." Italy’s place among Europe’s elite has indeed been eroded over the past decade. The 2006 World Cup victory, sealed by a dramatic penalty shoot‑out against France, remains the last time Italy advanced past the knockout stage in a World Cup. Since then, the Azzurri have managed only a single World Cup win – a 2‑1 triumph over England in Brazil 2014.
While the 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, offered a brief resurgence, the team has struggled to maintain that level. Several factors explain the decline. The golden generation that won the 2006 World Cup featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero.
By 2012, veterans like Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo kept the team competitive, but the retirement of stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci has left a talent vacuum. Data from the CIES Football Observatory shows that between 2020 and 2025 Italy exported only 413 players abroad, ranking 24th worldwide – behind nations such as the United States, Japan and Russia. By contrast, the other four major European leagues each produced over 1,000 exports in the same period, indicating that Italian players, young or old, are less in demand among Europe’s top clubs.
The scarcity of emerging talent is also evident in the national squad. From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player was under 24 – Inter’s promising forward Pio Esposito – whereas England fielded a dozen teenagers in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated merely 1.9% of Serie A playing minutes to players under 21, the second‑lowest figure among the world’s top 50 leagues, surpassed only by the United Arab Emirates Pro League.
Serie A’s own quality has suffered. High‑profile signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy were outliers, and the league’s tactical innovation has stagnated.
Managers like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the top clubs without delivering fresh ideas. This summer, Sarri moved to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus, underscoring the lack of new perspectives. Occasionally, external influences have sparked change.
Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led the modest club to a Champions League berth, demonstrating how fresh tactical concepts can break the cycle. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced an exciting brand of football, hinting at what could happen if Italian clubs embrace innovative coaching. Mancini’s first squad selection offers a hopeful sign.
The 34‑player roster featured nine uncapped players and eleven under‑23s, signaling a deliberate shift toward youth. Among the newcomers are 18‑year‑old Borussia Dortmund striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor – soon to join Chelsea – and Brentford’s Michael Kayode, all part of what the media is dubbing a "young revolution." Inter’s rising star Pio Esposito, already boasting five goals in nine caps, joins the mix, alongside FC Nürnberg forward Ali Zoma, who has netted 20 times in 36 games in Germany’s second tier, and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia. These players represent a new wave of Italian talent eager to prove themselves on the international stage.
"We’ll have a blend of experienced heads and fresh legs," Donnarumma explained. "We need to integrate these youngsters properly; they have the ability to help us immensely. They’re talented, they need minutes, and I’m confident Italy will return to its rightful place." The upcoming Nations League campaign will test this blend. Italy finds itself in a challenging Group A alongside Belgium, Turkey and France – a mini‑tournament of high‑caliber opponents.
Yet, after years of darkness, the Azzurri may only need a single spark to reignite their fortunes. For a deeper dive into Italy’s current predicament and a preview of Mancini’s second tenure, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News.
The analysis will explore tactical adjustments, player development pathways, and the realistic prospects of restoring Italy to the summit of world football.