The Fall of a Titan: Why Italy Has Struggled to Qualify for Recent Tournaments
Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was a seismic moment in international football. A proud four-time World Champion, Italy stumbled through a qualification campaign marked by inconsistency, tactical rigidity, and a lack of attacking firepower. After finishing second in their group behind Spain, the Azzurri were forced into a two-legged playoff against Sweden. Over two matches, they failed to score, and a 1-0 aggregate defeat sent shockwaves through the footballing world, ending a streak of 14 consecutive World Cup appearances.
In the aftermath of that failure, Italy began a process of renewal under new head coach Roberto Mancini. What followed was a period of surprising resurgence, culminating in a triumphant Euro 2020 campaign where Italy played dynamic, fluid football and defeated England in the final. However, that success may have masked deeper issues. The squad remained over-reliant on key midfielders to control games, and while their defensive structure was solid, they often lacked a consistent goal threat and the ability to break down well-organized opposition.
Those issues came back to the surface during the qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup. Placed in a group with Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, Italy started brightly but drew four of their last five matches. Missed penalties, injuries, and an inability to convert dominance into goals proved costly as Switzerland overtook them for the automatic spot. In the playoff semifinal, Italy again dominated possession against North Macedonia but failed to score, and a stoppage-time goal stunningly eliminated them, repeating the heartbreak of 2017.
The repeated failures suggest more than just bad luck — they point to a systemic decline. Italian football has been slow to modernize, and while tactical organization remains a strength, there's a noticeable lack of athleticism and flair compared to the top international sides. Youth development has not consistently produced world-class forwards, and many Serie A clubs continue to rely on veterans rather than building for the future. Until Italy fully embraces change both tactically and structurally, it risks falling further behind in a rapidly evolving global football landscape.
