The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark 12 lengthy years since Italy final ventured onto the worldwide stage, a scarcely plausible reality contemplating the Azzurri are the second most profitable soccer nation ever.
The Italians famously missed out on the 2018 instalment of soccer’s biggest celebration once they have been throughout a two-legged playoff. Then, 4 years later, they have been surprised by North Macedonia, additionally within the playoffs, on house turf. And sadly, there isn’t any assure that the 12-year drought will come to an finish this summer season.
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Italy’s Playoff Woes
For the third match in a row, will as soon as once more need to run the gauntlet of the playoffs. After being thumped house and away by Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I, the Azzurri will now need to beat Northern Eire in a playoff semifinal earlier than dealing with both Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina with a spot on the airplane to North America on the road. On-line betting websites do make Gennaro Gattuso’s facet the favourites to progress, however that was the case in each of Italy’s two most up-to-date failures, and they are going to be hoping that it’s third time fortunate within the upcoming playoffs.
Ought to Italy make it to North America, then a brand new upstart betting web site can be following them each step of the best way. The extremely anticipated launch of could have been accomplished nicely earlier than the upcoming World Cup, with the Canadian outlet providing an enormous array of markets and affords on the worldwide spectacle.
Whether or not the Azzurri function or not is completely as much as them and their potential to carry out to their greatest within the upcoming playoffs. However as of proper now, the very fact stays that it has been 12 years since their final look on the World Cup. So, which members of that squad that travelled to Brazil again in 2014 are nonetheless taking part in the attractive recreation right this moment? Let’s have a look.
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Mario Balotelli
The maverick Mario Balotelli was Italy’s predominant man in 2014. Two years prior, he blasted house a spellbinding brace within the Euro 2012 semifinals towards Germany, in addition to serving to Manchester Metropolis to the Premier League title as nicely. By the point Brazil rolled round, Tremendous Mario was main the road for AC Milan, netting 18 instances in 41 appearances in all competitions within the 2013/14 season previous the World Cup.
In Brazil, Balotelli was as much as his outdated methods within the match opener. He netted the winner towards England in Manaus, nodding previous former membership teammate Joe Hart to safe a 2-1 win. Nevertheless, that was nearly as good because it received. Each he and Italy went goalless all through their subsequent two contests towards Costa Rica and Uruguay, shedding each 1-0 to succumb to a .
Tremendous Mario would be a part of Liverpool on the end result of the World Cup, changing the Barcelona-bound Luis Suarez. However that was the start of a downturn in type for the long-lasting striker, and he would by no means rediscover the talent he confirmed in his Manchester Metropolis days. Quick ahead to right this moment, and the 35-year-old with UAE First Division facet Al-Ittifaq, though he’s but to make his first look for the membership.
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Marco Verratti
Midfield metronome Marco Verratti was simply 21 years of age when he headed to Brazil for the World Cup, however he was thought-about the inheritor to the Italian playmaking throne quickly to be vacated by the veteran Andrea Pirlo. The younger Paris Saint-Germain midfielder had simply six caps to his title heading into the match, however he began the opening recreation towards England, even helping Claudio Marchisio’s opener. It was all downhill from there, although, sitting on the bench for the defeat towards Costa Rica earlier than being subbed off within the loss to Uruguay.
FLORENCE, ITALY – JUNE 07: Marco Verratti of Italy warms up throughout coaching session at Forte Village Resort on June 07, 2023 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Italy. (Picture by Claudio Villa/Getty Photographs)
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Verratti would go on to make 55 appearances for the Azzurri, however when he swapped PSG for Qatari outfit Al-Arabi in 2023, his alternatives with the nationwide group dried up. Now aged 33, he stays in Qatar with Al Duhail however hasn’t featured for Italy because the UEFA Nations League Third Place Play-Off victory towards the Netherlands in the summertime of 2023.
Ciro Motionless
Again in 2014, Ciro Motionless had simply loved a breakout yr at Torino, firing 22 targets in 33 Serie A video games to drive his manner onto the airplane to Brazil. There, he got here off the bench towards each England and Uruguay however wouldn’t make a lot of an impression.
Throughout the next 12 years, the poacher would go on to change into one among Serie A’s biggest ever goalscorers, blasting a document 207 targets for Lazio and serving to Italy He now options for Bologna after returning to Italy following a stint with Besiktas.
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Matteo Darmian
Defender Matteo Darmian was a teammate of Motionless in Turin, that includes in all however one of many membership’s 38 Serie A video games the season earlier than the World Cup. He performed each minute of Italy’s marketing campaign in Brazil earlier than securing a big-money transfer to Manchester United a yr later. Now aged 36, he’s nonetheless on the books of Inter, making two substitute appearances this time period.
PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 05: Matteo Darmian of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his group’s first objective in the course of the Serie A match between Parma and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 05, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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Mattia Perin
Goalkeeper Mattia Perin was uncapped heading into the World Cup, and he remained that manner after Brazil, after spending the match backing up Gianluigi Buffon. He was anticipated to inherit the gloves as soon as Buffon retired, however that didn’t occur. Now, at 33, Perin has simply two Italy caps to his title. He’s at the moment at Juventus however has made solely ten appearances for the membership throughout the final three years.
Honourable Mentions
Neither Lorenzo Insigne nor Mattia De Sciglio has retired from skilled soccer; nevertheless, each at the moment stay with out golf equipment. They have been each within the Italy squad at Brazil 2014, with the previous’s sole show being a substitute look within the loss to Costa Rica. The latter, in the meantime, performed the complete 90 minutes towards Uruguay.