Italy Fighting To Avoid Another 'apocalyptic' World Cup Failure

Four-time winners Italy are 1 of nan astir successful nations successful World Cup history - but are successful threat of missing nan finals for nan 3rd successive time.

After failing to suffice for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, Italy are 2nd successful their group, 3 points down leaders Norway, who play nan Azzurri successful Milan successful nan decider connected Sunday.

But Italy request to triumph by a nine-goal separator astatine nan San Siro to automatically suffice because Norway's extremity quality is acold superior.

Therefore Italy will apt beryllium dropping into nan play-offs, which person been a root of caller heartbreak and embarrassment.

They lost 1-0 connected aggregate to Sweden to miss retired connected nan 2018 World Cup, past 4 years later suffered 1 of their astir humiliating defeats, beaten 1-0 astatine location by North Macedonia to extremity their hopes of qualifying for nan 2022 tournament.

For nan first time, nan 2026 World Cup, which will beryllium staged successful Canada, Mexico and nan United States adjacent June and July, will characteristic 48 nations.

Italian shot journalist James Horncastle, speaking connected nan Euro Leagues podcast, said: "Even pinch an expanded World Cup, that is going to beryllium bigger than ever, for Italy to miss retired - it was called apocalyptic nan first clip they missed retired successful 2017, I don't cognize what shape of nan apocalypse we are successful now."

Italy won nan European Championship successful 2021, but person not played astatine a World Cup finals since 2014 erstwhile they hit England but mislaid to Costa Rica and Uruguay and grounded to make it beyond nan group phase.

Their 2026 World Cup qualifying run could not person sewage disconnected to a worse start.

A tame 3-0 nonaccomplishment successful their opener against Norway, pinch Manchester City's Erling Haaland scoring 1 of nan goals, led to head Luciano Spalletti publically announcing his ain sacking 2 days later, though he still took complaint of nan pursuing 2-0 location triumph complete Moldova.

From past on, Italy person been playing catch-up, pinch flawless Norway winning their opening 7 qualifiers, scoring 33 goals successful nan process, including 14 for Haaland.

Italy turned to Gennaro Gattuso, a erstwhile combative midfielder who helped AC Milan doubly triumph nan Champions League and Italy unafraid their past World Cup trophy successful 2006.

Despite managing AC Milan and past winning nan Coppa Italia pinch Napoli, a 23-day spell astatine Fiorentina saw him time off without taking complaint of a game, earlier he only lasted 7 months astatine Valencia and 5 months astatine Marseille.

His astir caller assignment had been pinch Croatian nine Hajduk Split, and galore felt him becoming Italy head was a mistake.

"When I heard Gattuso was successful statement it conscionable seemed to show nan elephantine illness of Italy," Italian shot journalist Mina Rzouki told nan Euro Leagues podcast.

"There were truthful galore clips going astir connected societal media astir that Italy squad conscionable earlier they won nan World Cup and you are talking astir Paolo Maldini, [Fabio] Cannavaro, [Alessandro] Nesta, [Francesco] Totti, [Alessandro] Del Piero and it was conscionable an embarrassment of riches.

"Now erstwhile you look astatine Italy complete nan past fewer seasons, moreover though they won nan Euros, location was conscionable a autumn - but nan 1 point you could trust connected was that Italy created these awesome coaches. Yet nary of these awesome coaches were called up aliases person succeeded. Spalletti did not succeed."

Horncastle added: "The players person had their backs against nan wall aft losing to Norway successful June and now nan attack that is being imposed connected Italy by nan Italian media is 'you person to triumph each your remaining games and person to people tons and tons of goals'.

"Italy had a awesome coach successful Luciano Spalletti, although, for immoderate reason, it didn't activity out. Gattuso is simply a much celebrated head for his property conferences than nan shot he has put connected nan pitch."

However, under-pressure Italy person entertained nether Gattuso, pinch his broadside scoring 18 goals successful his first 5 matches successful charge. A 5-0 triumph complete Estonia was followed by a chaotic 5-4 occurrence against Israel, past 3-1 and 3-0 victories complete Estonia and Israel respectively.

Gattuso's broadside struggled to get nan breakthrough against Moldova connected Thursday earlier 2 precocious goals gave Italy a 2-0 triumph to support live their slim hopes of qualifying automatically.

"So far, truthful good," added Rzouki. "Spalletti was considered this awesome tactician but you ever had mobility marks complete his expertise to really spur connected his side.

"Gattuso has travel successful and screamed astatine them and told them really overmuch they request to conflict for this jersey and they each person nan passion wrong them. The players are playing for him and respect what he has achieved pinch nan Italian nationalist team."

If Italy decorativeness 2nd successful their group they will past person to look 2 single-leg play-offs to unafraid their spot astatine nan World Cup, which they won successful 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006.

Despite 5 wins successful 5 matches, Rzouki feels location needs to beryllium further betterment if they are to suffice and past make an effect successful North America.

"You tin spot they are quiet for goals astatine each times, but nan squad has nary balance," added Rzouki.

"If you look astatine nan measurement they played against Israel, they were playing Estonia and Israel but you thought they were playing France and Spain. You should beryllium beating Estonia very easy truthful you should not beryllium truthful scared. With Israel it's a harder squad but you still should triumph this lucifer without it being a kerfuffle.

"Israel had loads of chances, had counter-attacks and rotated their players truthful good and that threw Italy. The large quality pinch 2 strikers, and having strikers that are scoring goals. Scoring goals for Italy was truthful hard, but nether Gattuso it looks truthful easy.

"That equilibrium worries maine - they are reckless and look tactically naive astatine times. Maybe they will beryllium a spot for illustration Barcelona erstwhile they outscore opponents, but without nan beauty."