Italian football has hit a historic low point this season, with clubs and the national team both struggling to make an impact on the European stage. In continental competitions, no Serie A side progressed beyond the quarter‑finals, and only Atalanta managed to reach the Champions League round of 16. The domestic disappointment pales in comparison with the national team's woes.
Italy missed out on qualification for a third consecutive World Cup, a shocking outcome for a country that has lifted the trophy four times. The first two failures to qualify were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 at Wembley, which gave fans a brief glimmer of hope. The latest miss, however, proved to be the final straw.
The 48‑team World Cup did not feature Italy, prompting the resignation of head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina, and even the legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who had been serving as the team's head of delegation. "It's a very sensitive issue for me," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports. "Missing three World Cups in a row is painful, and Italy simply does not deserve this situation." The Azzurri have now turned back the clock, reinstating Roberto Mancini—the manager who guided them to Euro glory five years ago—as head coach. "We have to work.
The only way forward is to work," Donnarumma added. "With a new coach and the return of Mr. Mancini, our objective is to rebuild and bring Italy back to where it belongs.
I know it won't be easy for the fans, but especially for us, because we understand how much playing in a World Cup means to the nation. We will give everything to restore Italy's rightful place in world football. History has taught us that Italy should always be there, and we must live up to that legacy." Indeed, Italy belongs among the elite, but the gap between expectation and reality has widened dramatically over the past decade.
The current World Cup debacle is just the latest chapter in a long‑running decline that began after the 2006 triumph. Two decades later, that penalty‑shootout victory over France remains Italy's last appearance in a World Cup knockout round, and the Azzurri have won only one World Cup match since then—a 2‑1 win against England in Brazil 2014. The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, was a brief resurgence, but the team has never fully recaptured that form. Several factors explain the downturn.
First, the pool of world‑class talent that once powered the 2006 side—players like Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero—has dwindled. By 2012, the remnants of that generation were limited to veterans such as Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. Since the retirements of stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Italy has struggled to replace them with a new wave of high‑calibre players.
Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores the talent shortage. Between 2020 and 2025, Italy produced just 413 football exports, ranking 24th globally—behind the United States, Japan and Russia.
In contrast, each of the other four nations in Europe's traditional "big five" leagues exported over 1,000 players in the same period. Italian players, whether young or experienced, are simply less in demand among Europe's top clubs. The scarcity of youth talent is evident in the national squad as well.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24—Inter forward Pio Esposito—featured for Italy, while England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated a mere 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 itself suffered from a lack of fresh ideas. High‑profile signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy arrived, but the league’s tactical creativity lagged.
Managers like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri rotated among the top clubs without introducing significant innovation. Even this summer’s moves—Sarri to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus—did little to shake the status quo. Occasionally, outside influences have sparked change.
Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led the modest club to a surprising Champions League qualification, demonstrating how fresh tactical concepts can break the cycle. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching football, hinting at what could happen if Italian clubs embrace novel approaches. There are, however, encouraging signs that a new era may be dawning. Mancini’s first squad selection featured several promising newcomers: a 34‑player roster with nine uncapped athletes and eleven players under 23.
Among them are Borussia Dortmund’s 18‑year‑old striker Samuele Inácio, Chelsea‑bound defender Honest Ahanor (currently at Crystal Palace), and Brentford’s Michael Kayode—part of what the media is dubbing a "young revolution." In addition to Inácio and the highly‑rated Inter forward Pio Esposito—who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy—the list includes FC Nürnberg’s Ali Zoma, who boasts 20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division, and midfielder Issa Doumbia, a key figure for Sporting CP this season. These players represent a budding generation of Italian talent eager to prove themselves on the international stage.
"There will certainly be some established players. We're getting older, but we're still young, and there will also be some very young players joining the team," Donnarumma explained. "So it will be a mixture, and we need to help these young players integrate well. They can give us a great deal of help.
They're certainly talented players who need to play and gain experience, but I'm sure Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a daunting Nations League Group A, alongside Belgium, Turkey and France—three formidable opponents that will test any resurgence. Yet a nation that has lingered in obscurity for so long needs just one spark to reignite its fortunes.
Mancini’s second spell, combined with a fresh infusion of youthful energy, may provide that catalyst. For a deeper look at Italy’s challenges and a preview of Mancini’s renewed mission, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News.
The program will offer expert analysis of the Azzurri’s recent struggles and explore how the new‑old manager plans to guide Italy back to the summit of world football.