Italy: Azzurri face play-offs to avoid third World Cup miss | OneFootball

2025 was a complex and painful year of transition for the Italian National Team. Twelve months marked by tensions, changes in direction, and fluctuating results, culminating in the handover from Luciano Spalletti to Gennaro Gattuso.

Italy, from the Spalletti rift to the Gattuso project: Azzurri in the playoffs to avoid missing a third World Cup

A change in technical leadership that has yet to solve the central issue: Italy will have to go through the playoffs to chase the 2026 World Cup and avoid a third consecutive failure, which would have devastating consequences for the entire national football movement.

The end of the Spalletti era: a foretold epilogue

Luciano Spalletti's cycle ended traumatically. After the disappointment at Euro 2024, his position began to waver despite a generally positive run in the Nations League. The signs of crisis became evident in the quarter-finals against Germany, played in March.

The defeat by “2-1 comeback” in Italy and the “3-3 comeback” in Germany, after a first half closed at 0-3, showed a fragile team, capable of pride but lacking consistency. Elimination from the Final Four was only the prelude to the storm.

The final blow came in June, with the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the direct clash with Norway. Italy arrived at the appointment in precarious conditions, ravaged by injuries and internal tensions: Buongiorno, Calafiori, and Gabbia out, Acerbi refused the call-up, Kean unavailable. The result was a heavy “3-0” defeat against Haaland and company, which marked the definitive break between Spalletti, the team, and the Federation.

Within a few hours, the dismissal arrived. Paradoxically, it was Spalletti himself who announced it at a press conference, on the eve of the match against Moldova. A gesture that even caught President Gravina off guard. The Tuscan coach nevertheless led the Azzurri as a dismissed manager to a “2-0” victory, before saying a final farewell to Coverciano.

The arrival of Gattuso: identity, belonging, and maximum pressure

On June 15, 2025, the FIGC officially appointed Gennaro Gattuso as the new head coach, the 23rd in the history of the National Team. A choice strongly supported by Gianluigi Buffon, now the Azzurri’s team manager and a symbol of that 2006 spirit the Federation wants to rediscover.

Gattuso was chosen over profiles like Fabio Cannavaro, Daniele De Rossi, and a sensational return of Roberto Mancini, who had tried to mend the rift of 2023. The idea is clear: to restore a sense of belonging, sacrifice, and unity to a group that appeared lost.

“Ringhio knows the pressure is enormous and that failing again would be a catastrophe,” is the thought accompanying his appointment.

World Cup Qualifiers: useful wins, but not decisive

Gattuso inherited an almost compromised situation. Norway was cruising with maximum points, with a goal difference that protected them from any upset. Nevertheless, the new coach managed to give the team an emotional jolt, leading them to five consecutive victories against Israel, Moldova, and Estonia.

The group regained unity, but the final verdict came in the direct clash: the “1-4” defeat against Norway confirmed the Scandinavians’ first place and sent Italy to the playoffs.

March 2026: the obstacle course towards the World Cup

The scenario brings back memories of the nightmares of 2018 and 2022. In March 2026, Italy will face Northern Ireland in a single-leg match in Bergamo. If successful, the playoff final will be away against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A complicated path, but not impossible. The FIGC is considering organizing a dedicated training camp for Gattuso, a solution that is anything but simple given the congested calendar between Serie A and European cups.

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