Italian football has hit a historic low point this year, with clubs and the national side both struggling to make an impact on the continental stage. In European competitions, no Serie A team progressed beyond the quarter‑finals, and only Atalanta managed to reach the Champions League round of 16. The situation was even more dire for the Azzurri, who missed out on qualification for a third consecutive World Cup – a scenario almost unthinkable for a nation that has lifted the trophy four times.
The first two failures to qualify were softened by the euphoria of the Euro 2020 triumph on home soil, a victory that gave Italian fans a brief reprieve and a glimpse of hope. The latest miss, however, was the final straw. The expanded 48‑team tournament left Italy on the outside, prompting a wave of resignations that included head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who stepped down as head of delegation. "It's a sensitive subject that affects me a lot, because not qualifying for three World Cups in a row is tough, and Italy certainly doesn't deserve that," captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports.
"We have to work. The only way forward is to work," he added, emphasizing the need for a fresh start under the returning manager Roberto Mancini, the architect of the 2020 Euro win. Mancini’s second spell arrives with a clear mandate: restore Italy to the position it historically occupies in world football.
Donnarumma summed up the sentiment, "I know it's not easy for the fans, but especially for us, because only we know how much it means to us to play in a competition like the World Cup. So we'll give everything to bring Italy back to where it deserves to be.
History has taught us that Italy should always be there, so we have a great responsibility to bring the Azzurri back to the top." The reality, however, is that Italy has been far from its former glory for many years. The 2006 World Cup victory, capped by a dramatic penalty shoot‑out win over France, remains the last time Italy reached the knockout stage of the tournament. Since then the Azzurri have managed only a single World Cup win – a 2‑1 triumph over England in Brazil 2014 – and have struggled to replicate the consistency that once made them a perennial powerhouse.
The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, was a brief resurgence, but the underlying issues have persisted. The golden generation that featured Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero has long since retired. By 2012, the remnants of that era were limited to Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. The subsequent retirements of stalwarts such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have left a void that the current crop of players has struggled to fill.
Statistical evidence highlights the talent gap. The CIES Football Observatory reported that between 2020 and 2025 Italy produced just 413 football exports, ranking 24th globally – behind nations like the United States, Japan and Russia.
In contrast, the other four major European leagues each exported well over a thousand players in the same period. Italian talent, whether emerging or experienced, is simply less sought after by the continent's elite clubs. The national team’s age profile underscores the problem.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24 featured for Italy – Inter’s forward Pio Esposito – while England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated a meagre 1.9 percent of Serie A minutes to players under 21, the second‑lowest figure among the world’s top 50 leagues, surpassed only by the UAE Pro League. Serie A itself has suffered from a lack of youthful dynamism.
High‑profile signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy have bolstered squads, but the league’s overall creativity has waned. Coaching turnover has also contributed to stagnation, with figures like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri circulating among the top clubs without delivering fresh tactical ideas.
Even this summer saw Sarri move to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus, a reshuffling that did little to spark innovation. Nevertheless, there are glimmers of change. Cesc Fàbregas’s work at Como, which propelled the modest side into the Champions League, demonstrates how external concepts can revitalize Italian football. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s brief stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching performances, suggesting that new tactical influences can break the cycle of mediocrity.
Mancini’s initial squad for his return included several promising faces. The 34‑player roster featured nine uncapped athletes and eleven players under 23, signaling a deliberate shift toward youth. Among them were 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 has dubbed a "young revolution." Inter’s rising star Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, joins the mix alongside FC Nürnberg forward 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 talents represent a new generation eager to restore Italy’s reputation. Donnarumma reflected on the blend of experience and youth, "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. 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." The upcoming Nations League campaign will test this rejuvenated squad. Italy finds itself in a demanding Group A alongside Belgium, Turkey and France – a mini‑tournament of heavyweight opponents.
Yet, after years of darkness, all it may take is a single spark to ignite a revival. For fans craving deeper analysis, Sky Sports News will host The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m., offering a detailed look at Italy’s recent struggles and a preview of Roberto Mancini’s second tenure. The show promises to dissect tactical adjustments, player development pathways, and the broader cultural shifts needed to bring the Azzurri back to the summit of international football.