Italian football has hit a historic low point this season, and the repercussions have been felt at every level of the game. In European competition, no Serie A side managed to break through the quarter‑final barrier, and only Atalanta managed to reach the Champions League round of 16.
Those setbacks, however, pale in comparison with the national team’s dramatic collapse. For the first time since the era of the great Azzurri dynasties, Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The country, which has lifted the trophy on four occasions, now finds itself outside the 48‑team field that will be contested in 2026.
The disappointment was especially acute because the two previous failures to qualify had been softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 on home soil at Wembley. That triumph had offered a brief glimpse of hope, suggesting that the Azzurri could rebuild and return to their former glory. The latest miss, however, proved to be the final straw.
The failure triggered a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, the Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina quit his post, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who had been serving as the team’s delegation chief, also relinquished his duties. In a candid interview with Sky Sports, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma summed up the mood, saying, "It’s a painful subject for me because missing three World Cups in a row is something no nation of Italy’s stature should endure. We simply don’t deserve this." In response to the crisis, the federation turned back to a familiar face.
Roberto Mancini, the architect of the 2020 European Championship victory, has been reinstated as head coach. Donnarumma echoed the sentiment of the squad, emphasizing that hard work is the only path forward: "We have to work.
The only way forward is to work. With a new coach and the return of Mr.
Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to where it belongs." The captain’s words capture a deeper narrative: Italy’s place at the top of international football is not a matter of wishful thinking but of historical expectation. The Azzurri have a storied legacy that demands they compete at the highest level, and the current generation feels a profound responsibility to restore that status. Donnarumma’s remarks highlight the emotional weight carried by the players: "It’s not easy for the fans, but especially for us, because we understand how much it means to play in a World Cup.
We will give everything to bring Italy back to where it belongs. History has taught us that we should always be there." Despite the optimism, the reality is that Italy has been drifting away from elite performance for several years. The 2022 World Cup disaster is merely the latest chapter in a long decline that began after the 2006 triumph. That victory, sealed by a dramatic penalty shoot‑out over France, remains the last time Italy reached the knockout stage of a World Cup.
Since then, the Azzurri have recorded only a single World Cup win – a 2‑1 triumph over England in the 2014 tournament in Brazil. The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy finish as runners‑up, was a bright spot, but it was built on the shoulders of a generation that is now retired.
The 2006 squad featured world‑class talents such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero. By 2012, the core had shifted to veterans like Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. Since the recent retirements of stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, the national team has struggled to find a comparable replacement generation. Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores the problem.
Between 2020 and 2025, Italy produced just 413 football exports, placing the country 24th globally – behind nations such as the United States, Japan and Russia. By contrast, the other four major European leagues each exported well over 1,000 players in the same period.
Italian talent, whether young or seasoned, simply does not attract the same demand from Europe’s elite clubs. The scarcity of high‑quality Italian players is also evident in the national squad’s age profile. From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24 – Inter Milan’s promising forward Pio Esposito – featured for Italy, whereas England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same timeframe.
Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated a mere 1.9 percent 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. This dearth of youth development has had knock‑on effects for Serie A clubs.
While big‑name veterans such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy have occasionally joined Italian sides, there is a noticeable lack of creative, home‑grown managers willing to innovate. Coaches like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the top clubs, often recycling similar tactical ideas. Even this summer’s moves – Sarri to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus – illustrate a tendency toward familiar faces rather than fresh perspectives. Occasionally, external influences spark change.
Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led the modest club to an unprecedented Champions League qualification, demonstrating how new tactical concepts can break the cycle of stagnation. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching football that reminded fans of what Italian clubs can achieve when they embrace innovative ideas. There are, however, encouraging signs that a new wave of talent is emerging. Mancini’s first squad selection after his return featured a number of surprising inclusions.
Out of a 34‑player roster, nine had never earned a senior cap, and eleven were under the age of 23. Among the newcomers are Borussia Dortmund’s 18‑year‑old striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (who is slated to join Chelsea), and Brentford’s Michael Kayode – all part of what the media has dubbed a "young revolution." In addition to Inácio and the promising Inter forward Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, there is FC Nürnberg’s Ali Zoma, a prolific scorer with 20 goals in 36 matches in Germany’s second division, and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, who has been a key figure for his club this season. These players represent a fresh cohort of Italian stars ready to make their mark on the international stage. Donnarumma acknowledges the blend of experience and youth within the squad: "There will certainly be some established players.
We’re getting older, but we’re still young, and there will also be very young players joining the team. 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." Looking ahead, Italy faces a daunting Nations League group that includes Belgium, Turkey and France – a test that will demand both tactical acumen and the contributions of the emerging talents. The Azzurri have lingered in a period of uncertainty for too long, and many believe that all it takes is a single spark to reignite the flame of Italian football. For a deeper analysis of Italy’s current predicament and a preview of Roberto Mancini’s second spell in charge, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m.
on Sky Sports News. The program will explore the challenges ahead, the potential of the new generation, and the strategic adjustments that could steer Italy back to the summit of world football.