Italy plunges into crisis: Gennaro Gattuso departs after disaster in World Cup qualification
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on Friday the departure of coach Gennaro Gattuso, a decision that marks the end of a dark era for the “Azzurra” following the historic failure to qualify for the World Cup. This dramatic outcome follows a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final, where Italy, a four-time world champion, squandered an early lead and finds itself out of the World Cup for the third consecutive edition.
The setback in the playoff, which unfolded on a night of nightmares, triggered a genuine upheaval behind the scenes of Italian football. The day before, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina resigned after overseeing two failed campaigns to reach the World Cup. Additionally, Gianluigi Buffon, head of the national team delegation, also stepped down, highlighting the deep shock within the team’s structure.
Italy’s Sports Minister, Andrea Abodi, did not hold back in his criticism and called for a radical change in the leadership of the national team, emphasizing the national shame of not being present on the world’s biggest football stage since 2014. Gravina’s departure made Gattuso’s continuation virtually impossible, as he lost one of his main internal supports.
In an official statement, Gattuso expressed his sadness and took responsibility for the failure: “With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set, I consider my time in charge of the national team to be over. The Azzurri jersey is the most precious asset in football, and therefore it is right to facilitate future technical assessments immediately. It has been an honor to lead this team, made up of boys who showed commitment and loyalty to the jersey.”
Gennaro Gattuso, a former world-renowned midfielder, took over as head coach of the national team in June, signing a one-year contract, replacing Luciano Spalletti after the heavy 3-0 defeat against Norway in the opening match of the qualification group. Although he maintained the team for the subsequent victory against Moldova (2-0), Italy’s campaign was marked by ups and downs, with a series of five consecutive wins under his command that were not enough to secure direct qualification due to a lower goal difference compared to Norway.
Italy was forced to enter the playoffs, where it seemed destined to finally break the curse after defeating Northern Ireland 2-0 in the semi-final. However, the dream cruelly shattered in Sarajevo, when the team, reduced to ten players, lost the 1-0 lead and ultimately succumbed in the penalty shootout.
This cycle of failures represents a deep crisis for Italian football, which now faces a necessary restart following Gattuso’s departure and the exit of the federation president. The future of the Azzurra is uncertain, and the entire country is awaiting a revolution capable of restoring the lost glory to one of the greatest powers in world football.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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