Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli warns the statistics clarify why Italy are struggling. ‘In 2006, we had 400 gamers who might be referred to as up, however right now it’s simply 190.’
The Azzurri are one of the vital profitable nations in World Cup historical past, profitable the trophy 4 occasions, most just lately in 2006.
Commercial
Nevertheless, they’ve now didn’t qualify for 3 consecutive editions of the match, and Italian soccer is questioning the place all of it went so very improper.
Simonelli identifies Italy downside
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: of Italy celebrates scoring his crew’s first purpose with teammates and throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Eire at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Talking on the Sport and Finance conference, Lega Serie A chief Simonelli factors to the foundations.
Commercial
“In 2006, we had circa 400 gamers who might be referred to as up by the Nazionale, however right now it’s simply 190. Meaning beginning out with over 50 per cent fewer choices to select from,”
The areas the place gamers historically got here up from the streets and performed on the prime stage have gotten ghost cities for professionals now.
“From Sicily, an island with 4.7 million inhabitants, there is only one participant within the prime 5 European leagues. Calabria, with 1.8 million inhabitants, is in an analogous state of affairs. Is it doable that such dense areas of this nation’s inhabitants produce simply 1 per cent of its gamers?
“Till we relaunch Italian soccer, it will likely be troublesome to relaunch the monetary facet of the game too.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Former and Milano participant, Roberto Baggio, seems on previous to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
Commercial
The problem had already been , which instructed funding in Federation academies within the areas the place children historically performed soccer.
It was largely ignored and the issue continued to develop worse as time went on.