A Shift in the helm for Italy's 2026 World Cup Journey: A Brutal Norwegian Thrashing Costs Italian National Coach His Job
Italy's National Coach Loses Position Due to Norway's Disastrous Outcome
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In the harsh glare of Norway's 3:0 thumping in the World Cup qualifier, former Italian football national coach Luciano Spalletti found himself on the chopping block. The 66-year-old, who had been at the helm since September 2023, reluctantly announced his resignation after the game against Moldova on Monday evening. The association promptly informed him of the decision to relieve him from duty as the national coach. The humiliation of the defeat has Italy fretting over whether it will make the cut for the 2026 World Cup, marking a third consecutive absence for the once formidable football dynasty.
At a press conference, Spalletti expressed his regret and desire to stay and turn things around. He maintained a cordial relationship with association president Gabriele Gravina, acknowledging the dismissal as a consequence of underwhelming results. The former coach of SSC Napoli has promised to endorse the contract dissolution after the Moldova game. "I owe that to the association that has always stood by me, even when the results faltered," he said.
The race is on to find Spalletti's successor, with prominent names such as Claudio Ranieri and Stefano Pioli being tossed about. The 73-year-old Ranieri, currently coaching AS Roma, had originally planned to retire after the recent season. However, he might still be in the running if he reconsiders his decision. Pioli, at 59, has current obligations with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia, a club boasting Cristiano Ronaldo as its star player. Gennaro Gattuso, a former Italy midfielder and 2006 World Cup winner, and Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to success in Euro 2021 before falling short at the 2022 World Cup, are also popular choices. Daniele De Rossi, another esteemed former Italy player, is under consideration for the position, too.
The sports daily "La Gazzetta dello Sport" criticized the team's dismal performance against Norway, labeling it "embarrassing." The newspaper "La Repubblica" concurred, calling the defeat a humiliation. With only the group winner securing a direct spot in the next round, Italy currently finds itself at the bottom of the five-group table, nine points behind Norway. Aplace in the playoffs in March seems unavoidable at this point, setting up a precarious road to redemption for the Azzurri.
Sources: ntv.de, tsi/dpa
- International Match
- World Cup Qualification
- Football
Additional Insights:
- Other Candidates: Besides the aforementioned figures, sources have mentioned Massimiliano Allegri, the former Juventus coach who led the team to five consecutive Serie A titles. Additionally, Antonio Conte, a previous Italy coach who guided the team to victory in the 2016 Euro Cup, has implemented a come-back in England Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, making his availability questionable.
- Recent Performance: The Italian team stumbled in its recent friendly matches, losing to Romania and Armenia, further adding to the pressure on Spalletti and raising concerns about the team’s overall preparedness for the World Cup qualifiers.
The Italian Football Association is expected to implement a new community policy, considering the current crisis in the national football team, as they search for a successor to former coach Luciano Spalletti. Vocational training could be provided for the new coach, as the team looks to improve its performance and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. On the side, Italy's athletes might find solace in sports like football, as a distraction from the tough road to redemption in the World Cup qualifiers.
