Italian football has hit a historic low point this season, and the nation’s recent struggles have sparked a heated debate about its future. In European competitions, no Italian club managed to progress beyond the quarter‑final stage, and only Atalanta managed to break into the Champions League round of 16. Yet, the domestic league’s woes pale in comparison to the national team’s recent calamities. For the first time in modern history, Italy failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, a stark contrast to the country’s storied record of four tournament victories.
The first two qualification failures were partially softened by the euphoria of the Euro 2020 triumph at Wembley, which offered a brief glimmer of hope for a nation starved of success. The third failure, however, proved to be the final straw. The 48‑team World Cup expansion left Italy out in the cold, prompting a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina relinquished his post, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon bowed out of his role as head of delegation.
"It’s a painful subject for me," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "Not qualifying for three World Cups in a row is a disaster, and Italy simply does not deserve this." In a dramatic turn of events, the Azzurri have turned back the clock. Roberto Mancini, the mastermind behind the Euro 2020 victory, has been reappointed as head coach.
Donnarumma echoed the sentiment of many fans and players: "We have to work. The only way forward is hard work. With Mancini back at the helm, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the stature it deserves." He continued, "I know it’s not easy for the supporters, but for us, the players, the chance to compete in a World Cup means everything.
We will give everything we have to restore Italy to its rightful place. History has taught us that Italy belongs at the top, and we must honor that legacy." Indeed, Italy’s place among football’s elite is unquestioned, but the reality on the pitch has been far from that ideal for several years. The latest World Cup debacle is merely the most recent chapter in a long‑term decline that began after the 2006 triumph. Twenty years later, the dramatic penalty‑shootout victory over France remains Italy’s last appearance in a World Cup knockout round.
Since then, the Azzurri have recorded only a single World Cup win – a 2‑1 victory against England in Brazil 2014. The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, was a fleeting resurgence. Since that campaign, the national side has struggled to replicate the talent and cohesion that once defined it. The golden generation of 2006 featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero.
By 2012, the remnants of that era were still present in the form of Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. However, the retirements of stalwarts like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have left a void that the newer generation has yet to fill. Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores the depth of the problem. Between 2020 and 2025, Italy produced just 413 football exports, ranking 24th worldwide and trailing behind nations such as the United States, Japan and Russia.
By comparison, each of the other four major European leagues (England, Spain, Germany, France) exported well over 1,000 players in the same period. Italian talent, whether seasoned veterans or promising youngsters, simply isn’t as coveted by the continent’s elite clubs. The scarcity of high‑quality home‑grown players is evident in the national team’s composition.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player – Inter’s teenage forward Pio Esposito – was under the age of 24. England, by contrast, fielded a dozen players in that age bracket during the same window.
Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated a meager 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 decline has been mirrored by a lack of creative managerial appointments.
While clubs splashed cash on high‑profile veterans such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy, the league’s tactical innovation lagged behind. Managers like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the top Italian clubs with little variation in style. Even this summer saw Sarri move to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus, reinforcing a cycle of sameness. Occasionally, fresh ideas break through.
Cesc Fàbregas’s work at Como, which propelled the modest side into the Champions League, demonstrated how external tactical concepts can invigorate Italian football. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan injected an eye‑catching brand of play that reminded observers of the potential for innovation.
There are encouraging signs that a new era may be on the horizon. Mancini’s initial squad selection featured a surprising number of youthful prospects: out of a 34‑player roster, nine were uncapped and eleven were under 23. Among them were Dortmund’s 18‑year‑old striker Samuele Inacio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (soon to join Chelsea), and Brentford’s Michael Kayode – all part of what the media has dubbed a "young revolution." Inter’s rising star Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, joins the ranks of promising talents like FC Nürnberg’s Ali Zoma, who boasts 20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division, and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, who has become a key figure for his club.
These players represent a fresh wave of Italian talent eager to prove themselves on the international stage. Donnarumma summed up the sentiment: "We’ll have a mix of seasoned veterans and young newcomers. It’s essential we help the youngsters integrate and gain experience. They have the talent to make a difference, and I’m confident Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a daunting Nations League group alongside Belgium, Turkey and France – a test that will reveal whether the new generation can compete against Europe’s elite.
After years of darkness, the Azzurri need just one spark to reignite their storied legacy. For a deeper analysis of Italy’s current predicament and a preview of Roberto Mancini’s second tenure, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m.
on Sky Sports News.