4-time winners Italy are one of the vital profitable nations in World Cup historical past – however are at risk of lacking the finals for the third successive time.
After failing to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, Italy are second of their group, three factors behind leaders Norway, who play the Azzurri in Milan within the decider on Sunday.
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However Italy have to win by a nine-goal margin on the San Siro to mechanically qualify as a result of Norway’s purpose distinction is way superior.
Due to this fact Italy will probably be dropping into the play-offs, which have been a supply of latest heartbreak and embarrassment.
They to overlook out on the 2018 World Cup, then 4 years later suffered one in every of their most humiliating defeats, to finish their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 event.
For the primary time, the 2026 World Cup, which shall be staged in Canada, Mexico and the US subsequent June and July, will function 48 nations.
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Italian soccer journalist James Horncastle, talking on the stated: “Even with an expanded World Cup, that’s going to be larger than ever, for Italy to overlook out – it was known as apocalyptic the primary time they missed out in 2017, I do not know what stage of the apocalypse we’re in now.”
Nightmare begin put Italy underneath stress
Manchester Metropolis and Norway striker Erling Haaland is the highest goalscorer in qualifying for the World Cup with 14 objectives, together with this one within the 3-0 win over Italy in June [AFP via Getty Images]
Italy received the European Championship in 2021, however haven’t performed at a World Cup finals since 2014 once they beat England however misplaced to Costa Rica and Uruguay and did not make it past the group part.
Their 2026 World Cup qualifying marketing campaign couldn’t have gotten off to a worse begin.
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A tame 3-0 loss of their opener in opposition to Norway, with Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland scoring one of many objectives, led to supervisor although he nonetheless took cost of the next 2-0 residence win over Moldova.
From then on, Italy have been enjoying catch-up, with flawless Norway successful their opening seven qualifiers, scoring 33 objectives within the course of, together with 14 for Haaland.
Italy turned to Gennaro Gattuso, a former combative midfielder who helped AC Milan twice win the Champions League and Italy safe their final World Cup trophy in 2006.
Regardless of managing AC Milan after which successful the Coppa Italia with Napoli, a 23-day spell at Fiorentina noticed him depart with out taking cost of a recreation, earlier than he solely lasted seven months at Valencia and 5 months at Marseille.
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His most up-to-date appointment had been with Croatian membership Hajduk Cut up, and plenty of felt him changing into Italy supervisor was a mistake.
“After I heard Gattuso was in line it simply appeared to exhibit the enormous collapse of Italy,” Italian soccer journalist Mina Rzouki instructed the
“There have been so many clips going round on social media about that Italy group simply earlier than they received the World Cup and you might be speaking about Paolo Maldini, [Fabio] Cannavaro, [Alessandro] Nesta, [Francesco] Totti, [Alessandro] Del Piero and it was simply a humiliation of riches.
“Now once you take a look at Italy over the previous few seasons, despite the fact that they received the Euros, there was only a fall – however the one factor you possibly can depend on was that Italy created these nice coaches. But none of those nice coaches had been known as up or have succeeded. Spalletti didn’t succeed.”
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Horncastle added: “The gamers have had their backs in opposition to the wall after dropping to Norway in June and now the strategy that’s being imposed on Italy by the Italian media is ‘you need to win all of your remaining video games and have to attain heaps and plenty of objectives’.
“Italy had an important coach in Luciano Spalletti, though, for no matter motive, it did not work out. Gattuso is a extra well-known supervisor for his press conferences than the soccer he has placed on the pitch.”
Loads of objectives however enchancment wanted
Gennaro Gattuso was instrumental in Italy successful the 2006 World Cup and performed the entire ultimate when Italy beat France on penalties [Getty Images]
Nonetheless, under-pressure Italy have entertained underneath Gattuso, along with his facet scoring 18 objectives in his first 5 matches in cost. A 5-0 win over Estonia was adopted by a chaotic 5-4 success in opposition to Israel, then 3-1 and 3-0 victories over Estonia and Israel respectively.
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Gattuso’s facet struggled to get the breakthrough in opposition to Moldova on Thursday earlier than two late objectives gave Italy a 2-0 win to maintain alive their slim hopes of qualifying mechanically.
“To date, so good,” added Rzouki. “Spalletti was thought of this nice tactician however you at all times had query marks over his capability to actually spur on his facet.
“Gattuso has are available and screamed at them and instructed them how a lot they should struggle for this jersey and so they all have the eagerness inside them. The gamers are enjoying for him and admire what he has achieved with the Italian nationwide group.”
If Italy end second of their group they may then must face two single-leg play-offs to safe their place on the World Cup, which they received in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006.
Mateo Retegui has scored 5 occasions for Italy in Gennaro Gattuso’s opening 5 video games in cost [Getty Images]
Regardless of 5 wins in 5 matches, Rzouki feels there must be additional enchancment if they’re to qualify after which make an affect in North America.
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“You may see they’re hungry for objectives always, however the group has no steadiness,” added Rzouki.
“For those who take a look at the best way they performed in opposition to Israel, they had been enjoying Estonia and Israel however you thought they had been enjoying France and Spain. Try to be beating Estonia very simply so that you shouldn’t be so scared. With Israel it is a tougher group however you continue to ought to win this match with out it being a kerfuffle.
“Israel had a great deal of possibilities, had counter-attacks and rotated their gamers so properly and that threw Italy. The large distinction with two strikers, and having strikers which are scoring objectives. Scoring objectives for Italy was so arduous, however underneath Gattuso it seems really easy.
“That steadiness worries me – they’re reckless and look tactically naive at occasions. Possibly they are going to be a bit like Barcelona once they outscore opponents, however with out the sweetness.”