Italian football has hit a low point this year, with clubs and the national team both struggling to make an impact on the European stage. In the Champions League, only Atalanta managed to reach the round of 16, while every other Serie A side fell short of the quarter‑finals. The situation was far worse for the Azzurri, who missed out on qualifying for a third consecutive World Cup – an outcome that feels almost unthinkable for a nation that has lifted the trophy four times.
The first two missed qualifications were partially softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 at Wembley, a triumph that gave Italian fans a brief glimmer of hope. The latest failure, however, was a decisive blow. The expanded 48‑team World Cup did not feature Italy, prompting a wave of resignations that included head coach Gennaro Gattuso, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, and even veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who stepped down as the team's delegation chief. "It’s a very sensitive issue for me because missing three World Cups in a row is painful, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve that," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports.
"We have to work. The only way forward is to work hard. With the return of Roberto Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the place it rightly belongs." Mancini, the architect of the 2021 Euro triumph, has been reappointed as head coach, and his mandate is clear: restore pride, develop talent, and re‑establish Italy as a regular fixture at the highest levels of international football.
Donnarumma echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with Italy’s storied history. "Our fans expect us to be there, and history has taught us that we should always be competing in major tournaments.
We will give everything to bring Italy back to where it belongs," he said. The reality, however, is that Italy has been drifting away from the elite for several years. The last time the Azzurri reached the knockout stage of a World Cup was the dramatic penalty‑shootout victory over France in 2006. Since then, they have managed only one World Cup win – a 2‑1 triumph over England in Brazil 2014 – and have been eliminated in the group phase on multiple occasions.
The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, remains a bright spot, but the team has not replicated that level of performance since. A key factor is the erosion of world‑class talent that once defined Italian football. The 2006 squad featured legends 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. Yet the retirement of stalwarts such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci has left a void that the current generation has struggled to fill.
Statistical evidence underscores the talent gap. The CIES Football Observatory reports that between 2020 and 2025 Italy produced just 413 football exports, ranking 24th worldwide – behind nations like 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, highlighting a lack of demand for Italian talent among Europe’s elite clubs.
The scarcity of young, high‑quality players is also evident in the national team roster. 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 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. This shortage of youth has had a ripple effect on Serie A’s overall competitiveness. While high‑profile veterans such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy were signed in recent seasons, the league has suffered from a lack of creative innovation. Managers have rotated among the same familiar faces – Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri – with little fresh tactical input.
Even Sarri’s move to Atalanta and Allegri’s appointment at Juventus represent more of the same shuffle rather than a breakthrough. Occasionally, outside ideas have sparked change. Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led the modest club to a surprise Champions League qualification, demonstrating how novel concepts can disrupt the status quo.
Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s influence at AC Milan has produced moments of eye‑catching football, suggesting that openness to new philosophies could rejuvenate Italian football. There are encouraging signs that a generational shift may be underway.
Mancini’s first squad selection featured a blend of experience and youth, with nine uncapped players and eleven individuals under 23 in a 34‑man roster. Among the newcomers are 18‑year‑old Borussia Dortmund striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (who is set to join Chelsea), and Brentford forward Michael Kayode – all part of what could be described as a "young revolution." Inter’s rising star Pio Esposito, who has already scored five goals in nine appearances for Italy, joins the mix alongside FC Nürnberg’s prolific forward Ali Zoma (20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division) and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia.
These players embody a new wave of Italian talent eager to prove themselves on the international stage. "We will have a mix of established veterans and younger players," Donnarumma explained. "We need to integrate the youngsters properly, give them playing time, and they will help us regain our status. They are talented and ready to contribute, and I am confident Italy will return to where it belongs." The upcoming Nations League campaign will test this blend of experience and youth.
Italy finds itself in a challenging Group A alongside Belgium, Turkey and France – a mini‑tournament that will demand both tactical acumen and the emergence of new leaders. For a nation that has lingered in the shadows for too long, a single spark could reignite the flame.
Roberto Mancini’s second spell offers the possibility of that spark, provided he can harness the youthful energy, restore confidence, and implement a clear playing philosophy. Fans can follow a deeper analysis of Italy’s situation and a preview of Mancini’s plans on "The World Football Show" this Thursday at 2 p.m.
on Sky Sports News, where experts will dissect the challenges ahead and discuss how the Azzurri can climb back to the summit of world football.