Italy is one of the most established footballing nations in history, a consistent force at some of the sportโs most prestigious tournaments. The Italian menโs national teamโs success is huge, as it is one of the three teams to have won the FIFA World Cup four times, tied with Germany, and is the only team with more success in the tournament. Since their most recent triumph in 2006, Italy have been in decline, which has undoubtedly led to the worst period in the nationโs history. After failing to qualify for their third consecutive FIFA World Cup, Italy is undoubtedly in need of a change in hopes of reaching World Cup glory. With the Azzurri absent from the last two tournaments, it comes as little surprise that Italy feature poorly in football odds of late, a reflection of just how far the four-time champions have fallen from their former heights.
The Glory Days
In the FIFA World Cup, Italy has had some incredible stories, showcasing its dominance on four different occasions. Back when the World Cup was much simpler, with fewer games and competitors, Italy won the World Cup in back-to-back tournaments, in 1934 and 1938, to this day a truly impressive achievement. Italy were the first to achieve this feat, and since then, only one nation has replicated the success, which was Brazil.
Italy first lifted the World Cup trophy on home turf, after beating Czechoslovakia in a 2-1 victory after extra time. They took this success to the next tournament, hosted in France, when they beat Hungary 4-2, successfully defending their title under Vittorio Pozzoโs management once again.
Italy had a long dormant period in the FIFA World Cup, with only one final appearance, which they lost to Brazil, which was put to an end in 1982. Despite having an underachieving group stage, drawing the first three games and advancing only on the number of goals scored, Italy found form in the knockouts. They faced up against West Germany in the final, whom they beat 3-1, winning their third World Cup trophy.
They reached their fourth World Cup title in 2006, after beating France on penalties, making it the second time a World Cup was decided on penalties. The fixture began with Zidane scoring an early penalty for France, though Materazzi hit back early, and the scores remained level until penalties. Grosso scored the winning penalty for Italy, winning their fourth World Cup title.
The Reconstruction of the Modern Italian National Team
To return to being a competitive force in the FIFA World Cup, Italy must reset in a few key areas to potentially claim its fifth trophy.
The Striker Issues
Throughout the history of the Italian menโs national team, there have been some world-class strikers leading the line, proving to be a reliable goal threat. From Filippo Inzaghi to Roberto Baggio, Italy has had numerous consistent attacking players who have proved dangerous to all opposition. As of recent years, Italy have rotated with the number 9 position, with no clear and established striker being selected. With the limited and inconsistent minutes for these players, it has been challenging for all to find form, which has, in turn, contributed to the failure at the World Cup. In the coming years, the Italian national team should place its trust in one of the available strikers, with the likes of Retegui, Kean, Esposito, and others showing promise at the club level.
Unearthing the Next Generation of Talent
Italy has a long and storied history of producing some of the finest footballers the world has ever seen, many of whom became elite-level players through early trust and consistent game time at club level. In recent years, particularly across Serie A, breaking into first-team football has become increasingly difficult, with clubs leaning on established veterans rather than taking chances on unproven talent.
To return to the summit of international football, Italy must place faith in its emerging talent pool. Names such as Francesco Camarda, Esposito, and Pisilli have all been making waves across Italian football and catching the eye of those within the national team setup. Camarda in particular has been one of the most talked-about names in the game for over two years, having come through the renowned AC Milan academy. The Azzurri will be counting on these rising stars to step forward in the coming years and play a central role in guiding the national team back to the World Cup.
Rebuild Defensive Solidarity
Some of the best defenders of all time have come from Italy, with the national teamโs identity centred on defensive structure. Notable names include Maldini, Baresi, Chiellini, Cannavaro, and many more, all stacked with talent and defensive attitudes. Whilst Spain is known for their short passing, Brazil for their flair, Italy are remembered for their incredible defending, which in recent years has had a slight drop-off. Defending is part of Italian football DNA, with numerous Italian managers emerging who emphasise positioning and defensive structure.
The new manager of the Italy national team, Roberto Mancini, has a progressive attacking tactical approach that focuses on intensity. In the modern era of the Italian national team, a structure should be built around individuals like Bastoni and Tonali as a solid spine, while incorporating the likes of Niccolo Pisilli and Pio Esposito going forward who are undoubtedly some of the nationโs best young players now.
