The bitter defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup play-offs has plunged Italian football into a full-blown crisis, as the 'Azzurri' have missed out on the biggest football tournament on the planet for the third consecutive time.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso's team will be retained and continue working in Italy!
In the match in Zenica that ended in the early hours of April 1st, the Italian national team got off to a good start with Moise Kean's opening goal. However, the turning point came when Alessandro Bastoni received a red card at the end of the first half, leaving the Azzurri playing with ten men for most of the remainder of the match. Bosnia & Herzegovina took advantage of the opportunity to equalize, before taking the game to a penalty shootout and winning, thus extinguishing Italy's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Following the match, the President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, acknowledged the obvious disappointment but still tried to defend the team's performance. He argued that the players had fought hard and displayed a positive team spirit. However, criticism of Gabriele Gravina intensified, with many arguing that he was responsible for Italy's prolonged poor run of results.
Gabriele Gravina said the FIGC will hold a meeting next week, which will most likely also elect a new president. PHOTO: REUTERS
Under immense pressure, Gabriele Gravina announced he would convene a federation meeting next week to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the situation. Notably, he also emphasized the high likelihood of holding early elections to find a new president, as well as several key positions within the FIGC.
"This means that Italian football could enter a period of significant change at the management level, with pivotal decisions expected in the near future," Football Italia assessed.
Amidst this context, a surprising piece of information is that Gabriele Gravina still wants to retain coach Gennaro Gattuso and his assistant Gianluigi Buffon. According to Gabriele Gravina, Coach Gennaro Gattuso has helped the team rebuild its fighting spirit, clearly demonstrated by Italy's tenacious defense for over an hour while playing with only 10 men on the field. This is considered a crucial factor that has led the FIGC leadership to refrain from making changes to the coaching staff.
For his part, Gianluigi Buffon also confirmed that he and coach Gennaro Gattuso are ready to continue with the national team at least until June, to give the federation more time to assess the situation and make an appropriate decision. "This is a sensitive time, we will stay to support the team and the federation," the Italian football legend shared.
Meanwhile, coach Gennaro Gattuso remained calm after the defeat, though he couldn't hide his pain. He refused to comment on the future, emphasizing that this was not the time to discuss personal matters. According to the strategist, the fighting spirit of the players was commendable, but he also admitted that the team failed to capitalize on opportunities to finish the game when they had the advantage.
The painful defeat for Italian football means they will be spectators at the World Cup for the third consecutive time. PHOTO: REUTERS
This defeat is not just an isolated loss, but reflects the deep-seated problems of Italian football over the past several years. From the national team to the clubs, the "Azzurri" have shown signs of decline, with Serie A representatives consistently disappointing in European competitions.
Football Italia commented: “In the context of crisis, the fact that the FIGC is facing the possibility of a leadership change, while retaining the current coaching staff, shows a tug-of-war between reform and stability. The upcoming decisions will shape the future of Italian football, in an effort to regain its position as one of the world's most traditional footballing nations.”