What happened to Italy? - From 2006 World Cup winners to missing the 2022 tournament
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While looking through the groups for the 2022 World Cup, you may have asked yourself, “where’s Italy?” The four-time World Cup winners won’t be in Qatar this November and December, after missing out on qualification to the tournament.
It seems almost unthinkable for most football fans. How could a four-time World Cup winner and football powerhouse not be at the tournament? Well, it is possible and Italy have shown their vincibility over the last 15 years.
The World Cup hasn’t been kind to Italy since their 2006 win. The team came out of nowhere in Germany that summer to defeat France on penalties 5-3. The match was an epic encounter, with Italy’s Marco Materazzi scoring in the 19th minute to cancel out an earlier Zinedine Zidane penalty goal.
The two goalscorers would come together later on for one of the most famous moments in football history. Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest, sending the defender to the ground and the French superstar to the showers. It was Zidane’s last-ever match.
The World Cup win came on the heels of Calciopoli, a scandal in Italian football that saw “favourable” referees oversee matches for the big clubs. The scandal rocked Italian football and the 2006 World Cup win was a way to win the fans back over.
The Azzurri’s World Cup win ushered in a period of stagnation at the tournament. In 2010, Italy finished 26th out of 32 teams and exited at the group stage. Another group stage exit occurred four years later, as Italy ended the tournament 22nd.
Italy won the 2021 UEFA European Championship with a stunning performance. A penalty shootout victory over hosts England gave Italy their first trophy since 2006.
Yet, just months later, the Azzurri failed to make the 2022 World Cup. Roberto Mancini’s team finished second behind Switzerland in qualifying with 16 points from eight games.
The Azzurri couldn’t turn draws into wins posting a record of 4W-4D-4L. Switzerland posted 18 points from the 24 on offer.
Italy’s second-place finish sent them into the playoffs. There, the wheels came off. The Azzurri were heavy favourites to defeat North Macedonia. With the game set for extra time, North Macedonia’s Aleksandar Trajkovski scored in the second minute of stoppage time.
Mancini’s team of ageing veterans and solid Serie A stars just couldn’t get over the line. A win against North Macedonia wouldn’t have guaranteed World Cup football. Italy would have needed to defeat Portugal in another playoff to make the finals.
Remarkably, Italy already rebounded from their poor World Cup qualifying campaign. They won their UEFA Nations League 2022-23 group and will now play in the semifinals of the competition.
Mancini may not be in charge of the next World Cup cycle by the time it starts. Right now, he does look likely to remain with the national team. Italy will need to find ways to win matches to make the 2026 tournament.
However, it may not be that important for the tournament in North America. FIFA will expand the World Cup to 48 teams.
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