Roberto Mancini Reportedly Agrees to Become Italy Manager on 2-Year Contract
May 14, 2018
FILE - in this Thursday, March 8, 2018 file photo, Zenit St. Petersburg manager Roberto Mancini looks up prior to the Europa League round of sixteen first leg soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Zenit St. Petersburg in Leipzig, Germany. Roberto Mancini is the top candidate to become Italy's coach after Carlo Ancelotti reportedly turned down the job. Mancini tells RAI state radio,
Roberto Mancini has reportedly agreed a two-year contract to become the new manager of Italy.
Sky Sports News said on Monday that the former Zenit St Petersburg and Manchester City boss will become the new Azzurri chief:
BREAKING: Roberto Mancini agrees two-year deal to take over as Italy head coach and will sign tomorrow. #SSNpic.twitter.com/B1D44BP5jn
Italy have been without a manager since the departure of Gian Piero Ventura in November. He was in charge as the team failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer; it's the first time the country won't be at the tournament since 1958.
The failure to make it to the showpiece sparked an angry reaction from those associated with Italian football. With the national team reaching a nadir, there's no doubt Mancini has a big job to do.
It was confirmed on Sunday by Zenit that the 53-year-old had agreed to terminate his contract with the club, adding further fuel to the speculation he was set to become the next Italy manager.
As noted by Football Italia, he'll be taking a pay cut for his new job:
The appointment is likely to divide opinion, as Mancini's managerial career has been full of highs and lows.
In Italy, he won the Coppa Italia with both Fiorentina and Lazio before he steered Inter Milan to three Serie A titles. He then moved to City, winning the FA Cup and the Premier League in a four-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City's Italian manager Roberto Mancini celebrates on the pitch with the Premier League trophy after their 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at The E
After a year with Galatasaray, he returned to Inter and struggled in his second stint, eventually leaving in 2016 and joining Zenit a year later.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri believes Mancini can be the man to turn Italy around, per Goal UK:
Roberto Mancini has been backed to kickstart the Italy revolution, but he can't do it all himself pic.twitter.com/ja9IbOTPxY
There will be some big decisions for Mancini to make should he take the job on. The squad has been dependant on some exceptional veterans in recent years, and with Gianluigi Buffon now retired from the national team, there will be a leadership void to fill.
Still, despite the bleak mood surrounding the Italy team, there are still some reasons to be positive when looking at what's to come. In Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile, there are some exceptional players to call upon.
There are some stars coming through, too. In Gianluigi Donnamrumma, Italy have arguably the best young goalkeeper in the world, while players like Daniele Rugani, Alessio Romagnoli, Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi have tremendous potential.
Report: Roberto Mancini Agrees Deal to Take Italy Job
May 1, 2018
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - MARCH 08: Head coach Roberto Mancini of FK Zenit St Petersburg looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 match between RB Leipzig and Zenit St Petersburg at the Red Bull Arena on March 8, 2018 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Roberto Mancini has reportedly "reached an agreement" to become manager of the Italy national team and take over from caretaker Luigi Di Biagio.
Gian Piero Ventura was sacked from the role after Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in November, and Sky Italy (via Sky Sports News) are now reporting Mancini, currently in charge at Zenit Saint Petersburg, will be his permanent successor:
BREAKING: Sky Italy: Roberto Mancini reaches an agreement to become the next Italy manager #ssnpic.twitter.com/JxacrheX00
Mancini, 53, has long been reported as in the running for the Azzurri job, but Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Carlo Ancelotti were also on the shortlist, according to La Stampa (h/t Football Italia).
He will have a big job on his hands to turn Italy's fortunes around.
Ventura oversaw a hugely disappointing qualifying campaign that eventually resulted in Italy missing out on this summer's tournament in Russia after a play-off defeat to Sweden.
Italy failed to score a goal in either leg of the tie, and they will miss out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Assuming Mancini takes over the job, his first key target will be to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020.
Carlo Ancelotti Reportedly Offered Italy National Team Manager's Job
Apr 24, 2018
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 20: Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti looks on during the Press Conference of Match for Solidarity on April 20, 2018 at Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images)
The Azzurri have been without a permanent boss since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in November after failing to guide them to the World Cup, the first time since 1958 that they have not qualified.
Italy have since been managed by caretaker Luigi Di Biagio, who made the step up from the under-21 side.
According to Corriere dello Sport (h/t the Mirror's Jack Rathborn), Ancelotti is rumoured to be a managerial target for Arsenal but is close to agreeing a deal with the Italian Football Federation having met with commissioner Roberto Fabbricini and sub-commissioner Alessandro Costacurta in Rome on Monday.
The only obstacle is said to be Ancelotti's salary, as Italy are only able to afford to pay a total of €5 million for the manager and his staff.
In December, Ancelotti told RAI Sport (h/t the Press Association, via Eurosport) that he had turned down the chance to become Italy boss because of reservations over moving into international management and the problems throughout Italian football in need of address.
The 58-year-old has been out of a job since being sacked by Bayern Munich earlier in the season and recently expressed a desire to return to management, per Goal:
He particularly specialises in cup competitions, having won the UEFA Champions League on three occasions as well as domestic trophies in Italy, England, Spain and Germany, which could bode well for Italy if he takes charge.
The Azzurri's squad is far from vintage, but it's hardly lacking in talent either—they have the potential to achieve far more than they have under the right coach.
Italy are in need of a significant shake up, though, and despite Ancelotti's impressive honours list that does not appear to be his style. In recent years, he has operated as a relaxing figurehead in the wake of an intense predecessor, such as replacing Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and then Pep Guardiola at Bayern.
At Italy or Arsenal—who would also benefit from some intensity after years of decline under Arsene Wenger—he would therefore have a different job on his hands to which he has recently been accustomed. While that's not to say he could not be successful, he may not be the ideal fit.
Antonio Conte Denies Interest in Italy Job as Rumours Swirl
Feb 2, 2018
Chelsea's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London on January 28, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
"I can tell that (FIGC vice chairman Alessandro) Costacurta is a friend and we played together in the national team in 1994," Conte said. "Maybe he forgot that have 18 months with contract at Chelsea and my will and desire is to fulfill this contract."
Previously, it was reported Conte "seems eager" to take back his old position as manager of Italy's national team, according to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) commissioner Roberto Fabbricini.
Conte is one of three major candidates rumoured to be in contention for the role, although Fabbricini told the media there is no favourite to succeed Gian Piero Ventura, per Goal's Sacha Pisani:
"[Roberto] Mancini was in Rome, but we didn't contact him, Conte seems eager to wear Azzurro again, [Carlo] Ancelotti opens and closes the door and [Claudio] Ranieri isn't out either.
"There's no-one in pole position, we have to evaluate the pros and cons.
"We also have to evaluate the availability of the Federation, and explain to those who will come after us that there will be new governance."
The Azzurri are searching for a new boss after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup under Ventura, just the second time in the country's history they've not made it to the showpiece event. The only other World Cup Italy have missed was 60 years ago.
Matt Lewis of Yahoo Sport UK reinforced speculation Conte is unhappy with the transfer business at Chelsea after signing Ross Barkley from Everton, Olivier Giroud from Arsenal and Emerson Palmieri from AS Roma in January:
Conte clearly frustrated with Chelsea’s transfer business.
He told Sky Italy: “I do not aim high with my requests, especially as in my history I’ve rarely been given the players I asked for. I always ended up at clubs who were running an austerity programme.” #CFC
Fabbricini was speaking to reporters after the FIGC failed to find a replacement for former president Carlo Tavecchio on Thursday.
Conte's place at the Chelsea helm is in doubt as the Premier League champions sit fourth in the table, having slipped 18 points adrift of leaders Manchester City following Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.
Nizaar Kinsella of Goal recently provided quotes from Conte assessing the national team's current position:
Conte on Pirlo wanting a revolution in Italian football after missing WC2018: "I love this player, now he's a former player, unfortunately. What happened in Italy was a disaster, for sure we have to change something." #CFC
Conte managed the Azzurri between 2014 and 2016, at which point he left for Stamford Bridge, having led the national team to a quarter-final finish at that year's European Championship.
For all the recent criticism, however, Chelsea are only three points off second-placed Manchester United and level on points with Liverpool in third, leading BT Sport's Adam Summerton to defend the 48-year-old:
Conte has won a top league title in each of his last four seasons as a club manager...and he’ll win a sackful more, be it at Chelsea or elsewhere. Criticism over the top #CFC
Conte won the Premier League in his debut season in England and previously won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus between 2012 and 2014.
The tactician extended his contract to 2019 last July, but speculation suggests this term could be his last in England's capital.
Picking Italy's Squad for the 2022 World Cup
Nov 23, 2017
FLORENCE, ITALY - NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Florenzi and Andrea Belotti of Italy chat during a training session at Italy club's training ground at Coverciano on November 6, 2017 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
The Italian national team is in complete disarray. A play-off defeat at the hands of Sweden meant they failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958, ending a run of 14 consecutive trips to the game's biggest tournament.
Finding this wholly unacceptable, the Italian Football Federation—known as the FIGC—sacked coach Gian Piero Ventura, while president Carlo Tavecchio eventually resigned. That leaves the Azzurri without a manager or even somebody to appoint a new one, yet there are plenty of reasons for optimism.
As four-time winners of the World Cup, there is little doubt Italy will bounce back strongly. The peninsula has a long and proud history of producing talented players and, while the current side floundered, there is a younger generation pushing to replace them for the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Their under-21 side reached the semi-finals of the 2017 UEFA Under-21 Championship, while the under-20s finished third at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in June. The first of those two teams is full of players already featuring in prominent roles for major Serie A sides, providing evidence that football in Italy is finally beginning to put trust in these youngsters.
That makes the task of predicting how the Azzurri squad might look at the 2022 World Cup something of a challenge but one worth undertaking if only to prove just how promising they could be.
It must also be noted those aforementioned youth teams have largely utilised a 4-3-3 formation, a system that not only gets the most from their abilities but also would have helped the senior team give a much better account of themselves recently.
As a result, our squad has been tailored towards that framework, meaning the 23-man group is comprised of three goalkeepers, four central defenders, four full-backs, five central midfielders, four wingers and three central strikers.
Goalkeepers
Italy have said goodbye to Gianluigi Buffon, leaving the path clear for Gianluigi Donnarumma to take over as the nation's undisputed No. 1. The AC Milan star is fast-approaching his 100th club appearance despite being just 18 years old. He is also displaying the same prodigious talent evident in the Juventus skipper at a similar age.
Gianluigi Donnarumma: No goalkeeper in Europe's top 5 leagues has made more saves than Donnarumma (99) in 2017 pic.twitter.com/cosDLMjTGX
By the time the next World Cup gets under way, Genoa's Mattia Perin—already part of the Azzurri setup and a superb goalkeeper in his own right—will be almost 30. He will bring a veteran presence to the squad that could prove invaluable while providing excellent cover for Donnarumma.
The third choice is much tougher, with Udinese-owned duo Alex Meret and Simone Scuffet in contention alongside Juve-owned Emil Audero, who is impressing with Venezia, and Fiorentina's Marco Sportiello.
However, the outside choice might be a second Milan youth product, with the Rossoneri having another potential star on their hands if Alessandro Plizzari continues to develop as he has over the past 12 months.
Full-backs
While their free-spending in the summer might not be working out for Milan at the moment, they will undoubtedly be well-represented in the national team in the coming years. Not only have they delivered a stellar class of homegrown players, but the club has also invested heavily in Italian talent, including right-back Andrea Conti.
Formerly of Atalanta, the 23-year-old looks like he will make the role his own with the Azzurri for some time. Conti is able to press forward and contribute to the attack while remaining an excellent defender.
One of his former team-mates in Bergamo, Juventus-owned Leonardo Spinazzola, can do the same on the left flank, while naturalised Brazilian Emerson Palmieri of AS Roma provides cover.
The fourth member of this group is likely to be fellow Giallorossi star Alessandro Florenzi, the Rome native shining at right-back after starting his career further forward.
Torino's Antonio Barreca, a 22-year-old who broke into the Granata first team last season after impressing during a spell with Cagliari, can push Emerson hard for a place in the side.
Central Defence
Long a position of strength for Italy, the middle of defence remains as powerful as ever despite both Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli announcing their international retirements.
Leonardo Bonucci will be 35 when the next World Cup begins, but he would be a veteran presence in this squad, with Milan team-mate Alessio Romagnoli and former Juve partner Daniele Rugani coming in alongside him.
Mattia Caldara, who is on loan at Atalanta where he is experiencing Europa League football for the first time, rounds out the group. He joined Juventus in January and could be the best of the trio of Azzurri defenders poised to replace the vaunted "BBC" back line over the next few seasons.
Central Midfield
Setting aside Lorenzo Insigne's marginalisation, the most infuriating aspect of Italy's recent demise has been in central midfield. The likes of Marco Parolo and an ageing Daniele De Rossi featured in the first leg against Sweden, leaving Napoli's Jorginho watching from the sidelines.
In the return fixture, the Brazil-born midfielder made his debut and showed his ability with a string of incisive passes, making him a certainty for this squad alongside Marco Verratti.
Elsewhere, more talent will need to be drafted in as Ventura persevered too long with the likes of Riccardo Montolivo rather than using much more promising players.
Inter's Roberto Gagliardini, Lorenzo Pellegrini of Roma and Cagliari's Nicolo Barella are the best of those awaiting their chance, while Manuel Locatelli and Rolando Mandragora will be close behind.
Wingers
Ah, wingers. Able to bring pace, trickery and vision to a game, they possess all the skills so sadly lacking in Ventura's Italy.
The coach opted to field Insigne—perhaps his generation's most talented star and a player who lit up a Champions League game at the Santiago Bernabeu—for just 15 minutes against Sweden...in central midfield.
Quite what he expected the lightweight 5'4" speedster to do from there is anyone's guess, but he will feature out wide for the foreseeable future.
Joining him should be Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi and Federico Chiesa of Fiorentina, the latter being a simply irrepressible force blossoming into a genuine star with La Viola. Riccardo Orsolini could join him, but the competition is likely to come too late for Stephan El Shaarawy to make an impact.
Strikers
With Ciro Immobile also likely to be too old to maintain his current form, Torino's Andrea Belotti is arguably the most lethal striker at Italy's disposal.
The €100 million buyout clause in his contract will perhaps look good value if he continues scoring at this current rate, bringing with him a combination of accurate finishing, aerial prowess and speed across the ground.
Backing him up will be another Milan prospect, with Patrick Cutrone already showing a keen eye for goal. The story of the 19-year-old marksman was told in detail here, but he has found the back of the net three times in limited minutes this term, showcasing talent reminiscent of a young Filippo Inzaghi (only without the constant offside flag).
Searching for more headline-grabbing strikers is tough. Atalanta's Andrea Petagna is a solid option, but the potential of Juve's Moise Kean, Simone Lo Faso of Fiorentina and Genoa teenager Pietro Pellegri cannot be ignored.
Pellegri, 16, was discussed in this previous post and will be a player to watch over the next few years, providing more hope than many others mentioned.
Italian Football Federation Wants Antonio Conte to Return as Italy Manager
Nov 20, 2017
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte looks on during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns on November 18, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Carlo Tavecchio, the former president of the Italian Football Federation, has given a strong indication he wants Antonio Conte to take over as Italy boss for a second time.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t BBC Sport), Tavecchio implied Conte is his first choice to replace Gian Piero Ventura: "[Massimiliano] Allegri, [Roberto] Mancini, [Carlo] Ancelotti...I say getting warmer. And Conte? Fire."
Ventura was sacked as Italy boss after they lost to Sweden in their play-off for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the first time since 1958 the four-time champions will not be attending football's greatest showpiece. Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC reported that Tavecchio resigned from his position on Monday.
There was, naturally, a strong reaction to their failure:
The 69-year-old was something of a surprise choice to take over the Azzurri.
Ventura has spent his entire managerial career in Italy but never lifted a major trophy—winning Serie C and Serie D—and has never managed Juventus, AS Roma or either of the Milan sides. His brief spell with Napoli came while they were in the third tier, so his top-level experience was limited.
He made some strange decisions during his time as the national team coach, not least of all in the second leg of the play-off:
Lorenzo Insigne: —Six goals, five assists this season —Spends 90 minutes on the bench when Italy need a goal
His predecessor was Conte, who took charge after the World Cup in 2014 and departed for Chelsea after the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
Under his tutelage, the Azzurri beat Belgium, Sweden and Spain to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, where they lost on penalties to Germany.
Italy have not had a vintage team to call upon in recent years compared with their magnificent history, but as broadcaster Kristian Jack noted, the team was greater than the sum of its parts under Conte:
An ordinary Italy team looked extraordinary under Antonio Conte at Euro 2016. Now they would simply settle for ordinary. Awful performance.
Per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella, Conte said on Friday he is "totally committed" to the Blues after being asked about the possibility of returning to the Azzurri.
Doing so would require him to spend at least another two years away from club management, and given he is just 48, there is plenty of time for him to retake the Italy job later in his career.
In the meantime, it seems Italy will need to find another candidate they hope can help them rebuild.
Gian Piero Ventura Sacked as Italy Manager After Missing 2018 World Cup
Nov 15, 2017
MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Italy Gian Piero Ventura reacts during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg between Italy and Sweden at San Siro Stadium on November 13, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Gian Piero Ventura has been sacked from his position as the manager of the Italian national team, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
News of the change of leadership came via Sky Sports News:
Ventura leaves the Italy side at their lowest ebb for 60 years, as the team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup; it will be the first time since 1958 the Azzurri won't be involved in football's biggest international tournament.
In a two-legged play-off against Sweden, they were beaten 1-0. As noted by Sport Witness, the country's leading sports daily reacted angrily with the following front page:
After the loss, it was reported Ventura had departed, although those suggestions turned out to be incorrect initially. However, his position was always likely to be untenable after the side's struggles.
The play-offs were indicative of a tenure that has been rife with peculiar tactical decisions from Ventura, none more so than in the second leg of the match against Sweden where star Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was left on the bench as the team chased a key goal.
BeIN Sports' Matteo Bonetti was staggered by the approach that was taken by Ventura during the vital match:
There have been signs of an unravelling ahead of these two matches, though.
While there was no shame in Italy finishing in second place to Spain in the World Cup qualifying group, there was a naivety in the way the team was set up in such an attacking style when the two sides met in Madrid; Spain coasted to a 3-0 win.
James Horncastle of BBC Sport also noted senior players called a meeting after the team slumped to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Macedonia, "leading to the assumption they were taking matters into their own hands."
TOPSHOT - From left : Italy's defender Andrea Barzagli, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Italy's midfielder Giorgio Chiellini and Italy's midfielder Marco Parolo react at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Italy an
And against Sweden, the side lacked imagination, as Ventura struggled to get the best out of the players available.
As noted below, it feels as though the team has reached the end of an era:
Italy's 2006 world champions have now all retired from international football pic.twitter.com/6yl2gmRxVN
La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Guardian) has identified Carlo Ancelotti as a potential successor, with the legendary Italian coach having left Bayern Munich in September. Additionally, Zenit St Petersburg head coach Roberto Mancini was mentioned as a possible candidate.
Whoever takes over will have some brilliant players to call upon, with some exciting youngsters coming through. But it will be the UEFA European Championship in 2020, provided Italy qualify, before we see these players thrive on the big stage.
'Apocalypse': Media Reacts to Italy's Failure to Qualify for 2018 World Cup
Nov 14, 2017
LIVORNO, ITALY - NOVEMBER 14: Italian newspapers show Italy soccer team defeat on their front pages the day after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup 2018 on November 14, 2017 in Livorno, Italy. For the first time since 1958 Italy will not participate in the next World Cup in Russia, having been beaten by Sweden during the European qualifiers. The captain of the national team and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon between the tears came out saying that this defeat is also a social failure for Italy. There are many accusations and demands for resignations in Italy against all vertices of the Federation and the coach. (Photo by Laura Lezza/Getty Images)
Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest football stories of 2017, and the country's media has reacted with anger to the performance of the team.
The Azzurri were beaten 1-0 over the course of two legs by Sweden, with the 0-0 draw at the San Siro on Monday confirming Italy will not be involved in Russia next summer. It's the first time since 1958 the four-time winners will not feature in the World Cup.
As we can see courtesy of Sport Witness, Gazzetta dello Sport included a picture of a distressed Gianluigi Buffon on its front cover:
Per BBC Sport, Gazzetta suggested the team's struggles have brought about an "apocalypse."
"We will not be with you, and you will not be with us," it continued. "A love so great must be reserved for other things. Italy will not participate at the World Cup. It is time to start thinking about what else we can do in June: concerts, cinema, village festivals. Anything but watching Sweden play at the World Cup—that would be too painful."
Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Italy and Sweden, on November 13, 2017 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO (Photo credit should read MARCO B
As noted by the Guardian, Gazzetta also called on manager Gian Piero Ventura to leave his position and suggested Carlo Ancelotti, who left Bayern Munich earlier this year, could be a potential successor.
The nation's other major sports newspaper, Corriere dello Sport, ran with the following front page:
"Everybody fired" read the headline, per Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC.
Per the Guardian, as part of an editorial piece the publication branded Italy's elimination "an intolerable football shame, an indelible stain."
Elsewhere, Tuttosport refused to completely blame Ventura for the side's troubles. "The disgrace is not only down to Ventura," it said, per Gladwell. "It's the whole football movement. We're not going to Russia."
MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: Italy coach Giampiero Ventura looks on before the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg between Italy and Sweden at San Siro Stadium on November 13, 2017 in Milan, (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Gladwell also relayed a section from La Repubblica that touched upon how close Buffon came to making further history.
"There is a bitter taste to Buffon's tears; heartbreaking because he will not be at his sixth World Cup, which would have made him a legend as the only player ever to achieve that," they said. "… We thought we had already hit rock bottom, but we've gone further than that—we've gone back 60 years."
Given the match was Buffon's final game for the national team, much of the focus in the analysis has centred around him.
As we can see courtesy of journalist Francois Pinet, the 39-year-old, who has played an incredible 175 times for the Azzurri, was upset at the final whistle:
#Buffon 👏😥🇮🇹 "Je suis désolé pour tout le monde... Le temps passe et je suis désolé que mon dernier match avec l’équipe nationale soit cet échec."#ITASUEpic.twitter.com/x1JaCgNWr0
Given it's been so long since there was a World Cup without Italy the reaction from the Italian media and from around the globe is understandable. Some of the competition's finest moments have included the Azzurri and the many remarkable players that have represented the country down the years.
There are many calls for change throughout the Italian football setup among the press, and they will surely be actioned after the team plunged to their lowest point for more than half a century.
In Italy's Dark Football Moment, There Is Hope on the Horizon
Nov 14, 2017
Italian players react to their elimination at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
It shouldn't have come to this. As referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz blew the full-time whistle, Italy's players slumped to the San Siro turf, the harsh reality of the result already beginning to sink in.
For the first time in 60 years, the Azzurri had failed to secure a place at the FIFA World Cup after a qualifying campaign that saw this once-dominant side look frail and listless. That they did so was due almost exclusively to the ineptitude of Gian Piero Ventura, with the coach failing to make any noteworthy positive change in his two years at the helm.
The 69-year-old replaced Antonio Conte in July 2016, and he promised to build on what the Chelsea boss achieved at that summer's European Championship, insisting at a press conference that he was overseeing "a historic moment" because "so many youngsters are blossoming."
While Ventura's suitability was always in doubt because of his lack of experience at the highest level, his work at Torino showed he could develop such talent while gaining excellent results, bringing a generation of homegrown players into the Granata first team.
Yet when it mattered, he fell back on the same old names. Every member of the starting XI for Monday night's second-leg play-off with Sweden was at least 25, while six of those players were 30 or over.
As kickoff approached and with Italy trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Ventura knew they needed a goal. His best chance of getting one undoubtedly came from Lorenzo Insigne, the Napoli winger whose recent contributions to the national team perhaps summarise Ventura's approach best of all.
The pace, invention and skill he provides are evident every week in Serie A, where he leads all players in both shots (57) and shots assisted (38), according to Michael Caley of FiveThirtyEight, while his 8.9 expected goals plus assists are second in the league.
In the first leg against Sweden, he played just 15 minutes, sent on not as a wide attacking player but in central midfield. In the return fixture, AS Roma man Daniele De Rossi vented his frustration when the coaching staff told him to warm up, demanding Insigne be sent on, as seen in the tweet below:
De Rossi when asked to warm up: "Why the hell should I go on? We don't need to draw here, we need to win!" Points towards Insigne. Cc @footballitalia
But this is not just about Insigne. Much has already been said about Italy's pool of players, with Ternana boss Sandro Pochesci certainly the most vocal.
"We've all become wimps," he said at a recent press conference. "By bringing so many foreign players to the Italian league, we no longer have good old-fashioned Italian strongmen. We go to Sweden, and they beat us up instead. Italian football is finished."
Yet as much as Pochesci and Ventura tried to ignore it, the reality is different. FourFourTwo'srecent analysis of the world's best teenage players ranked three Italians in the top 10; Gianluigi Donnarumma finished first, Federico Chiesa fifth and Manuel Locatelli 10th.
None have played a competitive minute for the national team, while second-placed Kylian Mbappe has nine caps for France, Marcus Rashford (third) has made 14 appearances for England and Christian Pulisic (fourth) has played 20 times for the USA.
Instead of fielding them, Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign ended with the team scrambling for a goal but with three central defenders and the ineffective Marco Parolo on the field. That one of those at the back was Andrea Barzagli is further evidence of Ventura's failure. The 36-year-old was talked out of international retirement two years ago rather than allowing Daniele Rugani, Alessio Romagnoli or Mattia Caldara to take his place.
Pure class until the end—Gianluigi Buffon bows out from international football 💔 pic.twitter.com/VXpw62hseh
It should be no surprise that immediately following Itay's elimination, Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Daniele De Rossi joined Gigi Buffon in announcing they will no longer represent the Azzurri, per ESPN FC. As seen in the image above, the end of his international career left the goalkeeper in tears, but perhaps the fact he is stepping away in this darkest of moments can help to usher in a bright new dawn.
He made his debut way back in an October 1997 playoff against Russia, providing an ironic symmetry as Donnarumma now looks to replace him. There is no word yet on Ventura's own future. But his position is surely untenable, and the next coach must do more with the talent at his disposal.
The nation's press made their feelings clear.
"It will take a refoundation, a breath of fresh air, a national team with an identity, which we inexplicably renounced during the qualifiers," Patrizio Cacciari of Corriere dello Sport wrote (h/t Football Italia). La Gazzetta dello Sport labelled it "The End," with Tuesday morning's headline shown in the tweet below:
But supporters who have followed the Azzurri still believe in the players and coaches available to them.
"Struggling made Germany better. Not winning made Spain smarter," one fan told Bleacher Report. "We can fall back on Coverciano and the managerial facilities which these countries just don't have. We're better-placed. It's a moment for Italian football to not blame foreigners in the game because we have a football identity. We just had the wrong coach. It's about mentality, and mark my words, when qualifying for Euro 2020 begins, we'll be ready!"
Even in the crushing disappointment of elimination, there were signs of hope. Jorginho—whose absence from the team was lamented in this previous post—finally made his full debut and showcased his passing and vision, while Stephan El Shaarawy looked sharp after his own second-half introduction.
Another of Italy's bright young hopes, Juventus' Federico Bernardeschi, comes from Buffon's hometown of Carrara, and Buffon had complimentary words for the 23-year-old:
Buffon "Bernardeschi? A great signing: pure talent with great margins of improvement. He has the will to improve which I've seen in a few." pic.twitter.com/s67T3Ilmvs
Bernardeschi was aptly the one to speak for an entire generation as an era ended, per Rai Sport (h/tFootball Italia):
"Today a piece of Italian football history is leaving, important champions who wrote their names in stone for both Calcio and the sport worldwide. I thank them with all my heart, and now it's up to us youngsters to take on their example and bring as many victories as possible to this Nazionale. We begin again with our heads held high, proud to be Italian and to take these colours to the top."
They have the potential to do just that and must now be allowed to do so. It will be a long road back, but Buffon's tears must not be in vain. The black mark that this failure brings should not overshadow a promising future and a generation of talent that is ready but has yet to be given a chance to prove themselves.
There is no lack of talent in Italy, no need for the "root and branch" restructuring so often called for when such a nation fails to reach major tournament. The problem here will not be solved with a systematic overhaul, but instead by playing the men who should have already been pulling on those famous blue shirts for quite some time.
Playing for the Azzurri will always be difficult and demanding, but with the right coach in charge and this crop of youngsters eager to get going, the journey might be a lot more fun for those who witnessed Monday night's debacle.
Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini Among Italy Retirees After Missing World Cup
Nov 13, 2017
MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: An emotional Gianluigi Buffon of Italy at full time waves to the fans during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg between Italy and Sweden at San Siro Stadium on November 13, 2017 in Milan, . (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Missing out on the 2018 World Cup signals the end of an era for the Italy national team as a number of veteran stars announced their retirements following Monday's 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden.
Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was among those calling time on their international career.
"It's a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup," Buffon said, per BBC Sport.
Sportsnet's Arash Madani reported Buffon's Juventus teammate, Giorgio Chiellini, hasn't made a decision about whether to remain available for the Azzurri but is leaning toward retirement as well.
AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi offered a more definitive statement about his national team future.
"My adventure here ends," he said, according to Roma'sEnglish language Twitter account. "It's sad to think this was the last time I will wear these colours. But I couldn't be more proud of the journey, everyone I've played alongside."
Football Italia passed along comments from Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli, who told Rai Sport his international career is over:
"In football terms, it's the biggest disappointment of my life. The Italy side gives you unique sensations. It gives you goosebumps, creates friendships between all the Italy fans, they are finally united. It's a real shame to end like this. ... I don't know what we missed, all I know is we're out of the World Cup, it's a unique disappointment and leaving this group of lads is painful."
The retirements of Buffon, De Rossi and Barzagli will hit hard because all three players were a part of the 2006 side that won the World Cup. Chiellini missed out on the 2006 World Cup but helped Italy finish runners-up at the 2012 European Championship.
The circumstances behind the mass exodus will be painful for all involved, but missing out on the 2018 World Cup hastened the inevitable for the four players since their international careers were unlikely to extend much beyond the tournament.
Buffon will turn 40 in January. Barzagli, De Rossi and Chiellini are 36, 34 and 33 years old, respectively.
Slowly but surely, Italy have lost the stars responsible for delivering their fourth World Cup. After Monday night, it will be up to a new generation to put the Azzurri back on top of the football world.
