For the third consecutive time, the national team risks failing to qualify for the World Cup: a comparison between the current squad and the teams that were eliminated in the 2017 and 2022 playoffs
For the third consecutive time, Italy risks failing to qualify for the World Cup and will have to rely on the playoff gauntlet to secure a spot. This crisis now seems to be more than just generational, considering that the youngest players to have played in a World Cup with the national team were Perin, De Sciglio, and Verratti, all born in 1992. All Italian players born in the decade or so following that World Cup have only ever watched it on TV: so, even if Gattuso were to fail in his mission this March, an entire generation would effectively have been lost. One question, however, naturally arises when considering past examples and what might happen next: is this Italian team stronger in terms of talent than the two previous ones?
Giampiero Ventura’s team, which was eliminated by Sweden in 180 minutes in 2017 (a 1-0 away loss and a 0-0 draw at San Siro), still had a strong core of experienced and decorated players: Buffon in goal and the “BBC” in defense, Florenzi and De Rossi in midfield, and the rising star Jorginho pulling the strings. As for the rest of the squad—especially up front—there were players unable to replicate their club form for the national team: Belotti and Immobile above all, who had scored 26 and 23 goals, respectively, in Serie A that season but failed to find the net for Italy at the decisive moment.
Here is the lineup that took the field on November 13, 2017, at San Siro and was eliminated by Sweden: (3-5-2) Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva (Bernardeschi from the 31st minute of the second half), Parolo, Jorginho, Florenzi, Darmian (El Shaarawy from the 19th minute of the second half); Immobile, Gabbiadini (Belotti from the 19th minute of the second half). (Donnarumma, Perin, Astori, Rugani, Zappacosta, De Rossi, Gagliardini, Eder, Insigne). Head Coach: Ventura.
Mancini’s Italy— The failure in 2022 was certainly even more stinging. Given the caliber of the opponent, the fact that the defeat came in a single-elimination match played at home, and, above all, because Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri were the reigning European champions, following their triumph at Wembley just 256 days earlier. Compared to that team, the lineup against North Macedonia lacked the creativity of Chiesa and Spinazzola (who were sidelined by serious injuries) and the drive of Di Lorenzo on the right, due to a knee sprain sustained in the previous Serie A matchday. Locatelli was battling COVID-19, while Bonucci and Chiellini were not at their best following two calf muscle issues. In any case, 10 out of 11 of those starters were the same players who had won the European Championship.
Here is the lineup that took the field on March 24, 2022, in Palermo and was eliminated by North Macedonia: (4-3-3) Donnarumma; Florenzi, Mancini (89′ Chiellini), Bastoni, Emerson; Barella (77′ Barella), Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi (89′ Joao Pedro), Immobile (77′ Pellegrini), Insigne (64′ Raspadori). Head Coach: Mancini.
Gattuso’s Italy— At this point, it’s hard to predict exactly which national team will take the field in the March playoffs. We can rely on the core lineup Gattuso has relied on since taking over, keeping in mind that following the embarrassing defeat against Norway at San Siro, the head coach decided to bench players on yellow cards. A team lined up in a 4-2-4 formation, with Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, and Dimarco in front of Donnarumma; Tonali and Barella in midfield; and the striker duo of Retegui and Kean supported by two wingers chosen from Orsolini, Politano, and Zaccagni. We’ll have to wait and see if Federico Chiesa feels ready to don the Azzurri jersey again in March…
