All eyes will be on Bergamo on Thursday as Italy faces Northern Ireland in a crucial World Cup semi-final. The Azzurri are desperately trying to avoid what would be a national and sporting catastrophe for a football-mad nation: failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup . This match represents a turning point for a team that has struggled in recent years.
The Azzurri's rich history and the specter of repeated absences
It's impossible to discuss world football without mentioning Italy, four-time World Cup champions in their illustrious history (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006). Historically, the Italian national team has been a formidable force and a powerhouse in all international competitions. However, for the third consecutive time, Italy finds itself forced into the daunting European playoffs after failing to secure direct qualification from its group. Italian fans are experiencing profound anxiety, hoping that the tragic scenarios of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, when Italy's star was absent from the tournament, will not be repeated.
The memory of Italy remains burdened by the wounds of the recent past. In the 2018 playoffs, Italy fell to Sweden 1-0 in the first leg and drew 0-0 in the second, missing out on the tournament for the first time since 1966. The pain deepened in the 2022 playoffs with a resounding home defeat to North Macedonia, conceding a last-minute goal. And in the current qualifiers, Italy finished second after a stumble against Norway, led by Erling Haaland, placing them once again in this predicament.
The expected repercussions of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The absence of a team the size of Italy from the 2026 World Cup will not be merely a fleeting sporting loss, but will have far-reaching consequences. Domestically, it will lead to significant economic losses related to television broadcasting rights, shirt sales, and sponsorship contracts, not to mention the negative psychological impact on an entire generation of young players and passionate fans. Regionally and internationally, the tournament will lose some of its competitive and popular appeal with the absence of one of Europe's most established tactical schools, thus affecting the overall marketing returns of the competition.
Given their current slump, Italy's triumph at Euro 2021 in the summer of 2022 seemed like a mere temporary resurgence, followed by the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Qatar World Cup. If Italy manages to overcome Northern Ireland, as they have done in their previous home matches, they will face the winner of the Wales-Bosnia match in the final of the playoffs away from home.
Psychological pressures and technical challenges facing the Italian camp
The coaching staff is aware of the magnitude of the responsibility placed upon them. In this context, coach Gennaro Gattuso stated, “It’s natural to feel pressure. You’d be bloodless if you didn’t feel it.” He added that all the players understand the importance of the match, emphasizing the need to remain calm and fully focused.
For his part, legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, currently the head of the national team's delegation, acknowledged that the players feel the "doubts of the people." However, he expressed his strong confidence in the team's ability to handle all kinds of pressure. Buffon explained that the past few days had been a trial, but they had helped to build a strong spirit, emphasizing that "the magic that the Italian national team can create transcends the current difficulties.".
On the technical front, the national team suffered a blow with the exclusion of striker Federico Chiesa due to his lack of match fitness. Bologna striker Nicolò Campiaghi was called up to replace him, while Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Scamacca are racing against time to recover. This crisis comes at a time when Italian club football is also struggling, having not won the Champions League since 2010, highlighting the urgent need for a complete overhaul to restore its former glory.
