2025-10-11 06:54:29
Mark DoyleCould Italy really miss ANOTHER World Cup? Gennaro Gattuso’s men set for decisive double-header against Estonia and Israel as the Azzurri face failing to qualify for a third consecutive finalsItaly coach Gennaro Gattuso and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma both attended the inauguration of the new museum of football at Coverciano on Wednesday. Gattuso was meant to donate the boots he wore in the 2006 World Cup final win over France but revealed that his mother refused to give them up. The museum isn’t short of precious artefacts from Italy’s glorious past, though, and their current coach admitted, “It’s emotional to be here, because there are so many wonderful memories.”Unfortunately, the silverware also served as a tangible and very painful reminder of just how far the national team has fallen in recent years. Italy may have won Euro 2020 but they’ve failed to qualify for the past two World Cups, so while Donnarumma admitted that he felt goosebumps walking around the museum, the Azzurri captain also admitted to feeling “a lot of responsibility” to ensure that the four-time champions do not miss out on a third consecutive finals.As it stands, though, it remains a distinct possibility…
Italy’s precarious position in the race for the 2026 World Cup qualification has plunged the nation into a familiar yet agonizing spiral of uncertainty. Gennaro Gattuso, whose tenacity as a player helped secure the 2006 World Cup, now faces the daunting task of steering the Azzurri through a brutal European qualifying group. The upcoming matches against Estonia and Israel represent more than just routine fixtures—they are survival games, with failure meaning a humiliating third straight World Cup absence. For a country steeped in footballing tradition and four-time champions, the prospect of watching the tournament from afar has become an unsettling reality. Gattuso’s squad, while talented, lacks the cohesion and sharpness that defined Italy’s golden eras, raising questions about whether the team can replicate the magic of past campaigns.
The emotional visit to the Coverciano museum underscored the stark contrast between Italy’s revered history and its present. As Gattuso navigated displays of jerseys, trophies, and souvenirs from iconic moments like the 1982 World Cup and Euro 2020, the weight of his decision-making—and the team’s underperformance—loomed larger. Donnarumma, the young goalkeeper hailed as a beacon of hope, knows the criticism will intensify if Italy’s slide continues. His admission of feeling “a lot of responsibility” highlights the burden carried by a generation raised to idolize legends like Maldini and Rossi, yet struggling to forge its own legacy. Fans, meanwhile, cling to the belief that the Azzurri can reignite their former brilliance, though decades of declining results and tactical missteps have eroded confidence.
Gattuso’s leadership will be tested like never before in these decisive matches. Estonia, often dismissed as qualifiers’ minnows, and Israel, a team on the rise, pose distinct challenges. Italy’s recent draws with North Macedonia and Malta—coupled with losses to Norway and Switzerland—reveal a pattern of inconsistency that threatens to derail their hopes again. Analysts argue that the squad’s reliance on aging veterans like Bonucci and Chiellini, coupled with a lack of emerging stars, has left Gattuso with a fragile blueprint. Yet, amid the doubt, there are whispers of possibility: the 2026 finals, hosted across three nations, offer a broader path for qualifiers, and Italy’s tactical depth could still tip the scales. The next two games, however, are a do-or-die reckoning—a test of whether the Azzurri can reclaim their identity or risk being remembered as the team that squandered a century of glory.
