For a nation that has lifted football’s biggest prize four times, the current scene feels uncomfortably familiar and alarmingly fragile.
Sunday’s 4-1 drubbing by Norway ripped away Italy’s chance of automatic passage to the 2026 World Cup and dumped Azzurri supporters into a season of anxious what-ifs.
After two catastrophic misses at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, Italy now slide into perilous playoff territory once more, a route that has already given them their worst international shocks.
From San Siro shame to playoff purgatory
Italy began the campaign with optimism but were punched in the mouth early.
An opening 3-0 reverse to Norway — punctuated by Erling Haaland’s brilliance — triggered the first of a string of headaches that culminated in the San Siro setback. That loss left Italy playing catch‑up against a Norway side relentless and clinical; finishing six points adrift meant the Azzurri could no longer control their fate and must now navigate the ruthless, single‑match lottery of the playoffs
History of heartbreak makes playoff path a minefield
The playoffs are no comfort. They reopened wounds from 2017 when Italy bowed out to Sweden and from 2021 when North Macedonia stunned the nation at home, ending qualification in humiliating fashion. The memory of those nights — labelled apocalyptic by pundits at the time — hangs heavy now. Italian observers ask whether a third near‑miss would be a crisis of identity, coaching, or talent development.
Gattuso’s arrival and the managerial tumble
After Luciano Spalletti’s shock exit amid a poor start, Gennaro Gattuso took the reins in hopes of sparking a revival.
His appointment divided opinion — a combative former midfielder with pedigree but an uneven recent coaching CV. Gattuso has injected verve and goals, but critics say the changes feel reactive rather than structural. Social media unearthed the golden era icons — Maldini, Cannavaro, Nesta — and the contrast with today’s instability has sharpened the debate about whether Italy still breeds elite managers and whether the federation has a clear plan.
Firepower without balance
Under Gattuso the goals have flowed; Italy has rediscovered attacking bite with eye‑catching scorelines and a 5-4 thriller among the highlights. Yet the offensive renaissance has exposed a nagging problem: balance.
Tactical naivety at times, defensive lapses and a lack of composure against supposedly lesser sides have left commentators warning that flair alone won’t deliver at a World Cup. The Azzurri are scoring freely but too often leaving themselves vulnerable on the break, and the playoffs will punish any structural weakness
The debate over qualification rules
The defeat has reignited calls for reform.
Gattuso himself questioned the fairness of the current system and pointed to continental imbalances, arguing that Europe’s runners-up are left too exposed while other confederations enjoy more automatic berths. With the 2026 tournament expanded to 48 teams, those arguments have sharpened; Italy’s leadership and supporters will push for answers as much as results.
What comes next
Now Italy must win two knockout matches to reach the World Cup; a sudden‑death gauntlet that demands calm, discipline and tactical clarity.
The questions are urgent: can Gattuso steady the ship and find defensive equilibrium? Will the federation trust a manager with a flawed recent record? Can this squad, European champions in 2021, convert flashes of attacking brilliance into consistent, tournament‑ready form?
For a country used to footballing pride and tactical mastery, the script now reads like a thriller — high stakes, unpredictable, and capable of a dramatic reversal. If Italy make it through the playoffs, narrative becomes redemption; if not, it will be another chapter in a troubling decline that demands deep reflection long after the final whistle.
