Italy at the World Cup by proxy through players, coaches and referees | OneFootball

Italy have missed the last three World Cups, from 2018 to 2026, yet the tournament still carries a distinctly Italian imprint through diaspora players, coaches and officials, L'Équipe notes.

Australia, who have two Italy-born players in their squad, won the first transalpine meeting in Vancouver, beating Türkiye 2-0, coached by Vincenzo Montella. Christian Volpato was unused on Sunday, while centre-back Alessandro Circati, 22, started and finished the game.

Volpato, Australia-born and now at Sassuolo, represented Italy up to under-21 level before choosing Australia. Parma defender Circati, born in Fidenza, holds dual nationality and grew up in Australia. He switched in 2023 after talks with Graham Arnold.

France’s Marcus and Khephren Thuram were born in Italy but never considered for the Nazionale. Italy once explored calling Raphinha, who holds an Italian passport, without success, and Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso also have Italian ancestry.

Beyond Montella, Italian coaching is fronted by Carlo Ancelotti, 67, whose Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco on matchday one. It is his first national-team job and he is the highest paid national-team coach on an estimated €9.5m a year, with a small pocket of support back home.

Fabio Cannavaro leads Uzbekistan at their first World Cup and faces Portugal, Colombia and DR Congo in Group K.

Referee Maurizio Mariani, from Aprilia, is joined by VAR Marco Di Bello and assistants Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni. An international since 2019 and UEFA Elite that same year, he recently handled Saudi Arabia’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay.

Source: L'Équipe