Ventura: Italy now aim to qualify, not win the World Cup | OneFootball

On Stile TV, during the broadcast "Salite sulla giostra," Gian Piero Ventura, former coach of Napoli and the Italian national football team, made an appearance.

Italy, Ventura speaks again: "Before the goal was to win the World Cup, today it's to qualify"

These are the words of the former coach to our microphones: "The memory of the '82 World Cup is fantastic, primarily because I was younger! And also because I experienced it with friends of the time, and back then, the National team united us completely. The passion was within us, we didn't need to shout. I played football during that period, then I got injured and started my coaching career. Gattuso has freed the players' minds a bit, there was a need to rebuild enthusiasm, and so far he has succeeded. Previously, our hope was to win the World Cup, today instead we hope to qualify. When we didn't qualify, the Federation was weak, today it is very strong politically. I have lived for football, I love the National team beyond any reasonable doubt, but the facts are that in 2006 we won the World Cup, in 2010 we exited in the first round, in 2014 we exited in the first round, in 2018 we didn't qualify, in 2022 we didn't qualify, in 2024 we had the worst European Championship ever, and we are still talking about changing coaches."

"It's the system that needs to be changed, but I said it 10 years ago, I made a report to the federation saying that we couldn't continue like this. In 2006 Italy had Del Piero, Inzaghi, Toni on the bench, today instead we have young promises. I did something that no Serie A coach would have done: I gave up Serie A to coach Napoli in C where there were no jerseys or balls. I didn't do it for economic or professional reasons, but because I felt affection and Napoli couldn't be in those conditions. I took the plunge, I lived through the ruins, and I am really happy that Napoli is now in the Champions League. I left because Calaiò missed a penalty! Every time I meet him, he tells me he feels guilty for missing the penalty! Joking aside, it's part of the job I chose to do. I hope and believe this is the beginning of a long-lasting journey at high levels."

Vincenzo Schiavo

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