Discover the reasons behind the collapse of Italian football after missing another World Cup. Analysis of the crisis, resignations, and the future of Serie A.
The Apocalypse of the Azzurra
Italy has been eliminated from the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Discover all about the defeat against Bosnia, Donnarumma's tears, Gravina's resignation, and Gattuso's uncertain future.
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Italian football, once a global powerhouse and home to some of the brightest stars, is going through one of the darkest periods in its history. The recent defeat in the World Cup playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina is not just a setback, but a symptom of a chronic illness affecting the entire system.
Another World Cup Failure
The image of Gianluigi Donnarumma in tears after the defeat in Zenica perfectly encapsulates the feelings of a football-mad nation. This was the third time the talented goalkeeper has experienced the bitter taste of failing to qualify for football's biggest tournament. Although the Manchester City goalkeeper showed determination on his social media, urging everyone to "find the courage to move on," the reality is much bleaker.
Fabio Capello, a true legend of the sidelines, didn't hesitate to call the situation a "sporting tragedy" and a "disgrace" for a four-time world champion team. The elimination wasn't entirely surprising. Despite a comfortable victory against Northern Ireland earlier in the match, the 4-1 home defeat to Norway had already exposed the weaknesses of Gennaro Gattuso's team.
Alessandro Bastoni's sending-off before halftime against Bosnia was the final nail in the coffin, but as journalist Stefano Agresti pointed out, complaining about the refereeing against the 71st-ranked team in the world is absurd. "We threw the game away ourselves," he concluded.
Immediate Consequences: Gattuso and Gravina in the Eye of the Hurricane
The failure has claimed its first victims. Gennaro Gattuso's future at the helm of Azzurra It seems a done deal. He himself had stated that his position would be untenable if he failed to qualify. Rumors suggest that Roberto Mancini, the architect of their Euro 2020 victory, could return to try and extinguish the fire.
However, the main focus of the anger was not the coach, but the top brass. Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), was forced to resign after this second World Cup failure under his leadership.
The pressure was overwhelming. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi demanded his resignation, and figures like Lazio president Claudio Lotito led campaigns against him. After crisis meetings with representatives from all the leagues, Gravina relented, leaving the FIGC searching for a new leader to tackle a monumental rebuild.
The Root of the Problem: An Unattractive Product
The crisis goes far beyond the national team's results. Gravina pointed out, before his departure, that only 33% of players in Serie A are eligible for the national team. Demetrio Albertini supported this assertion, arguing that the lack of Italian players in the domestic league severely limits the coach's options.
The state of Serie A is alarming. Bureaucracy is preventing the modernization of stadiums, many of which are not owned by the clubs, depriving them of vital revenue. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin even warned that Italy could lose its co-hosting rights to Euro 2032 if it does not improve its infrastructure.
This lack of investment has made the league a less attractive product, reducing television rights revenue and the ability to compete for top international talent, earning it a reputation as a "retirement league".
Rejected Reforms: Baggio's Ignored Legacy
The most tragic thing is that the need for reform is not new. After the failure at the 2010 World Cup, the task was entrusted to Roberto Baggio The creation of a restructuring plan. Baggio presented a 900-page report emphasizing technique over tactics in the lower categories and the comprehensive education of young players.
Incredibly, the FIGC ignored the vast majority of his proposals, leading to Baggio's resignation in 2013. The current fear is that any new attempt at reform will suffer the same fate.
As Arrigo Sacchi aptly put it in 2022: “We talk a lot, but problems aren’t solved with words alone.” Four years later, in 2026, the situation has only worsened. Without drastic and concrete measures, Italian football risks never recovering from this third apocalypse.
