When you think of World Cup football royalty, Italy sits proudly at the table with four stars glittering above their crest. But after an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening World Cup qualifier and the shocking resignation of Luciano Spalletti, the nation is once again on the brink of missing a third consecutive World Cup. Yes — a third.
It’s a sentence no Italian fan wants to hear, but the nightmare might be playing out again. The echoes of past failures — Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022 — are still fresh. And now, after another wake-up call in Oslo, Italy is back in a familiar place: staring into the abyss.
Spalletti, once hailed as the savior after guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, resigned just days after the humiliating loss. Despite salvaging a 2-0 win against Moldova two days later, the damage was already done. The pressure from the media, fans, and the Italian FA was too intense to survive.
The timing couldn’t be worse. With Norway running away at the top of Group I — nine points clear and boasting a terrifying goal difference — Italy has found itself needing to win every remaining game, including a must-win rematch against Norway in November. Otherwise, they risk another dreaded play-off, a scenario they know all too well ends in disaster.
🇮🇹 The Fall of a Giant: How Did We Get Here?
To truly understand this crisis, we need to go back. Italy missed the 2018 World Cup after a painful play-off loss to Sweden. That shock triggered an emotional national reckoning. Then came the brief high of winning Euro 2020 under Roberto Mancini, but the joy didn’t last long — just two years later, Italy missed Qatar 2022 after a shocking defeat to North Macedonia in Palermo. The reaction was brutal. Fans were crushed, the media was merciless, and the team’s identity was in question.
When Spalletti was brought in August 2023, fresh off Napoli glory, there was hope he could spark a new golden era. But reality hit hard. The national team is not a club side. There’s little time to build chemistry, implement tactics, or drill systems. Spalletti tried to implement complex formations — switching from 3-4-2-1 to 3-5-2 mid-camp — and the players looked confused and unprepared. Against Norway, it showed.
💔 The Norway Nightmare
The game in Oslo was more than a loss — it was a meltdown. Haaland bullied the defense, Odegaard danced through the midfield, and Norway looked like the side with four stars. Italy, meanwhile, looked shell-shocked. The 3-0 loss exposed tactical gaps, poor communication, and a squad that clearly lacked confidence in their setup. Yes, Italy bounced back with a 2-0 win over lowly Moldova (FIFA rank: 154), but it was a hollow victory. The squad knew it. So did Spalletti. And that’s why he walked.
🧳 Spalletti’s Goodbye: A Sad, Inevitable Exit
Let’s be clear — Spalletti wasn’t just fired. He essentially fired himself. In a post-match interview after the Moldova win, he said: “When the pressure becomes heavier than the purpose, it’s time to leave. I have failed to get this team to believe.” Oof. That hurt. His record isn’t awful — 12 wins, 6 losses in 24 games — but context is everything. The European Championship campaign last summer was poor, and despite showing promise in the Nations League, the team never clicked consistently.Sky Italia journalist Marco Nosotti summed it up:“He had too many ideas, tried to force complexity into a team that needed simplicity.”
Many also pointed out that Spalletti focused too much on Inter Milan’s core players and neglected fresher, more dynamic options.
🚫 Ranieri Says No, Pioli Might Say Yes
After Spalletti’s exit, the Italian FA acted fast. The first name they called? Claudio Ranieri. The “Tinkerman.” But at 73, the legend respectfully declined. He’s now taken a senior role at AS Roma and has no interest in the chaos of another national rebuild.
Instead, eyes now turn to Stefano Pioli, currently in Saudi Arabia managing Al-Nassr. The former AC Milan and Lazio boss has experience, tactical discipline, and calm leadership — all things Italy desperately needs right now. But will he take the job?
Other names floating include Fabio Cannavaro (popular among fans), Thiago Motta (progressive and ambitious), and even Daniele De Rossi. But whoever takes the job will face a brutal task: five must-win games and a do-or-die rematch with Norway in Rome.
📉 A Structural Problem: Italy’s Deep-Rooted Issues
Truth is, Italy’s crisis isn’t just about tactics or one bad coach. It’s deeper. It’s systemic. Only 34-36% of players in Serie A are Italian. That’s shockingly low compared to Spain, Germany, and England. Clubs prefer cheaper, more experienced foreign imports, leaving young Italian talent rotting on benches or forced abroad.
Former Milan boss Fabio Capello didn’t mince words: “We teach our boys tactics and structure. Spain and Germany teach their kids freedom, flair, and decision-making. We are choking creativity.”
At youth levels, Italy has shown promise — U17, U19, and U20 teams have won or reached finals in recent years. But the gap between youth success and senior integration is massive. Even Maurizio Viscidi, Italy’s youth national coordinator, admitted they’re only just starting to shift the culture at Coverciano — the national training center — to emphasize individual brilliance alongside tactical awareness. But it’s a slow change. And time is not Italy’s friend right now.
🔮 The Road Ahead: What Must Happen
Here’s what Italy needs to do next:
-
Win all five remaining qualifiers — no room for error.
-
Boost goal difference massively — Norway already has a +9 advantage.
-
Defeat Norway in November — preferably by more than one goal.
-
Find a new coach fast, and unify the dressing room again.
This isn’t just about qualifying. As Marco Nosotti put it, “It’s about pride. About money. And about giving these players the experience they desperately need at the world’s top level.” Italy must be in the 2026 World Cup in North America. Failure is unthinkable.
🇮🇹 Final Word: Can the Azzurri Rise Again?
Italian football is full of drama, despair, and — let’s not forget — rebirth. Every time they’ve fallen, they’ve risen. In 2006, after the Calciopoli scandal, they went and won the World Cup. After missing 2018, they won Euro 2020. And maybe, just maybe, this latest humiliation is the fire they need.
But here’s the truth: the Azzurri are out of excuses.
A third straight World Cup absence would not just be a failure — it would be a death sentence for Italy’s reputation on the world stage. The clock is ticking, the fans are restless, and the world is watching. Over to you, Italy. Your move.