Flamengo’s Jorginho on missing a World Cup with Italy: “It hurts” | OneFootball

Italy were left out of the last three World Cups

Playing in a World Cup is the dream of practically every footballer in the world. While national teams battle in the knockout stage of the tournament, Flamengo midfielder Jorginho revealed his sadness at never having played in the competition for Italy.

— I was watching Brazil as a fan. Even knowing there was no possibility (of becoming naturalized), I watched as a fan because it’s the country where I was born, and I love Brazil very much. So I was always hoping for the best for Brazil. If Italy had been there, I would have wanted to be playing. But since they weren’t, it’s a sad matter — he said, before concluding:

— What the Italian national team is going through, and that includes me too, because I was there in two of the chances to go to the World Cup, is difficult and sad. It’s something that, unfortunately, is missing from my career. I would say I have an incredible career, considering where I came from, my story. And this is something that is marked on me. It’s something that hurts — Jorginho concluded to ‘FlamengoTV’.

Why does Jorginho play for the Italian national team?

Although he was born in Brazil, Jorginho became an Italian citizen, since he developed as a player in the European country. The Flamengo midfielder represented Italy between 2016 and 2024, totaling 57 matches, but the national team missed every World Cup during that period. It is worth noting that the ‘Azzurra’ last played in a World Cup in 2014.

What was Jorginho’s last appearance for Italy?

The last time Jorginho took the field for Italy was during the 2024 season, at the Euros. Since then, the Flamengo midfielder has not worn the ‘Azzurra’ shirt again. However, the player was dreaming of qualifying for the World Cup.

This is because Jorginho was included in Italy’s preliminary squad for the final matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, the Italian national team fell in the playoff against Bosnia on March 31 and said goodbye to the dream of playing in the world tournament.

What is Jorginho’s situation at Flamengo?

While the World Cup continues, Jorginho is getting ready to take the field for Flamengo. This Wednesday (08), Rubro-Negro face Lausanne Sport (SUI) at 4:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Algarve Stadium in Portugal, in the second friendly of the mid-season break.

As usual, Coluna do Fla is following every detail of Flamengo’s mid-season break and friendlies in Portugal. With on-site coverage from Rock Hudson and Simon Lédo, stay tuned to the website, social media, and YouTube. Finally, Band (free-to-air TV), GE TV (YouTube), and SporTV (pay TV) will broadcast the match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.