Italian football has hit a historic low point this season. Across Europe, no Italian club managed to progress beyond the quarter‑final stage of any competition, and the only Serie A side to reach the Champions League round of 16 was Atalanta. Yet the domestic struggles pale in comparison with the national team’s recent woes.
For the first time in three consecutive World Cup cycles, Italy failed to qualify for the tournament. That outcome is almost unthinkable for a nation that has lifted the trophy four times. The first two failures were softened by the euphoria of the Euro 2020 triumph in London, which at least offered a glimmer of hope. The latest miss, however, proved to be the final straw.
The 48‑team World Cup did not feature Italy, prompting a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina quit, and veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon relinquished his role as team delegation head. "It’s a painful subject for me because missing three World Cups in a row is terrible, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve that," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports.
The Azzurri have now turned back the clock and reinstated Roberto Mancini, the manager who guided them to Euro 2020 glory, as head coach. "We have to work. The only way forward is to work," Donnarumma added. "With the change of coach and the return of Mr.
Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the place it rightfully belongs. I know it isn’t 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 historic stature. History teaches us that Italy should always be present at the biggest tournaments, so we must bring the team back where it belongs." Indeed, Italy belongs among the elite, but it has been far from that level for a while.
The recent World Cup debacle is just the latest chapter in a long decline that began after the 2006 triumph. Two decades later, the dramatic penalty‑shootout victory over France remains Italy’s last appearance in a World Cup knockout round. Since then, the Azzurri have recorded only one World Cup win – a 2‑1 success against England in Brazil 2014. The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy reach the final, was a bright spot, yet the nation has struggled to maintain that standard.
Several factors explain the downturn. First, Italy has failed to produce the world‑class talent that defined the 2006 squad, which featured legends such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero. By 2012, that generation lingered on through icons like Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. Since the retirements of stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, a clear generational gap has emerged.
Data from the CIES Football Observatory shows that between 2020 and 2025 Italy exported only 413 players abroad, ranking 24th globally – behind the United States, Japan and Russia. All other nations in Europe’s "big five" leagues produced over 1,000 exports in the same period. Italian players, whether seasoned or emerging, are simply less attractive to the continent’s top clubs. The scarcity of high‑quality home‑grown talent is evident in the national team as well.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24 – Inter’s promising forward Pio Esposito – featured for Italy, while England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated just 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 UAE Pro League. Serie A itself suffered from a lack of youthful vigor. While clubs made headline‑grabbing signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy, the league’s creative spark remained dim.
Managerial turnover added to the stagnation: figures like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the top clubs without introducing fresh tactical ideas. Even this summer, Sarri moved to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus, illustrating the limited innovation. Occasionally, outside influence can spark change.
Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led to a remarkable Champions League qualification, while Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching football. Such examples suggest that new perspectives can revitalize Italian football. There are encouraging signs that a new era may be dawning.
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 bound for Chelsea), and Brentford’s Michael Kayode – all part of a budding "young revolution". The list also includes Inter’s highly‑rated forward Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, Nuremberg’s prolific striker Ali Zoma (20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division), and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, who has become a key playmaker.
"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," Donnarumma explained. "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 and need experience, but I’m sure Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a daunting Nations League group alongside Belgium, Turkey and France in Group A. The competition will be fierce, but a nation that has lingered in obscurity for too long needs just one spark to reignite its fortunes.
For a deeper analysis of Italy’s recent struggles and a preview of Mancini’s second spell, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News.