Italian football has hit a historic low point this season, and the nation’s recent failures have sparked a heated debate about its future. In European competitions, no Italian side progressed beyond the quarter‑final stage, and the only Serie A club to reach the Champions League round of 16 was Atalanta.
Yet the domestic league’s struggles pale in comparison to the national team’s woes. For the first time in three consecutive World Cup cycles, Italy failed to qualify for the tournament—a shocking outcome for a country that has lifted the trophy four times.
The first two misses were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 at Wembley, a triumph that gave fans a glimmer of hope. The third disappointment, however, proved to be a breaking point. The 48‑team World Cup that excluded Italy prompted a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina quit, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon relinquished his role as head of the delegation. "It’s a painful subject for me because missing three World Cups in a row is a huge blow, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve this," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports.
In response, the Azzurri have turned to a familiar face from the past. Roberto Mancini, the manager who guided Italy to Euro glory five years ago, has been reinstated at the helm.
Donnarumma summed up the new direction: "We have to work. The only way forward is hard work. With a new coach and the return of Mr. Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the level it deserves." He added, "I know it’s not easy 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 rightful place. History teaches us that Italy belongs at the top, and we must honour that legacy." Indeed, Italy’s place among football’s elite is undeniable, but the team has been far from that standard for several years.
The recent World Cup fiasco is merely the latest chapter in a long‑term decline that began after the nation’s 2006 triumph. Two decades have passed since the dramatic penalty‑shootout victory over France, which remains Italy’s last appearance in a World Cup knockout round.
Since then, the Azzurri have recorded just one World Cup win—a 2‑1 upset of 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 momentum.
A key factor is the erosion of the world‑class talent pool that once powered the side. The 2006 squad featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero. By 2012, the remnants of that generation were still present through 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 current generation has yet to fill.
Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores the problem: between 2020 and 2025 Italy exported only 413 players abroad, ranking 24th worldwide—behind nations such as the United States, Japan and Russia. In contrast, each of the other four major European leagues produced well over 1,000 exports in the same period, highlighting a stark disparity in the marketability of Italian talent.
The shortage of emerging stars is also evident in the national team’s age profile. From June 2025 to February 2026, merely one capped player under the age of 24—Inter’s forward Pio Esposito—featured for Italy, whereas England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italian clubs allocated only 1.9 % of Serie A playing minutes to players under 21, the second‑lowest figure among the top 50 leagues globally, surpassed only by the United Arab Emirates Pro League. This talent gap has had a ripple effect on Serie A’s competitiveness.
While high‑profile veterans such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy have been recruited, the league has struggled to inject fresh creativity. Coaching turnover has further hampered innovation; seasoned managers like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have circulated among the top clubs with little variation in philosophy. Even this summer, Sarri moved to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus, underscoring the lack of new tactical ideas.
Occasionally, outside influences have sparked breakthroughs. Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led to a surprising Champions League qualification, demonstrating how fresh concepts can revitalize Italian football. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced an exciting brand of play for the Rossoneri.
There are, however, encouraging signs that a generational shift may be underway. Mancini’s first squad selection featured several promising newcomers.
Out of a 34‑player roster, nine were uncapped and eleven were under 23. Among them were Dortmund’s 18‑year‑old striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (soon to join Chelsea), and Brentford forward Michael Kayode—players representing a potential "young revolution" for Italy. In addition to Inácio, the highly‑rated Inter forward Pio Esposito—who has already netted five goals in nine appearances—adds firepower.
FC Nürnberg’s Ali Zoma, boasting 20 goals in 36 matches in Germany’s second tier, and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia also feature as emerging talents. "We will certainly have some established names. We are getting older, but we remain young, and there will be very young players joining the team," Donnarumma explained.
"It will be a mix, and we must help these youngsters integrate well. They can contribute a great deal. They are talented and need experience, but I am confident Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a challenging Nations League group, sharing Group A with Belgium, Turkey and France—an arena that will test any resurgence.
Yet a nation that has lingered in obscurity for years needs just one spark to reignite its fortunes. Mancini’s second tenure offers that spark, provided he can blend experience with the fresh energy of the new generation.
By fostering a culture of hard work, tactical flexibility, and giving young players meaningful minutes, Italy may yet rediscover the winning formula that once made it a football powerhouse. For a deeper analysis of Italy’s current predicament and a preview of Mancini’s upcoming campaign, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News.