Italy team on the brink of World Cup

The four-time world champions entered the decisive match against Norway at 2:45 a.m. on November 17 with no room for error, but with too many question marks about their ability, mettle, and future.

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Italy was once a symbol of World Cup pride. A football nation that built its reputation and identity on sweltering summer nights, withstanding the pressure and creating moments that would become legacy. Now they face the prospect of a third successive World Cup exit, a scenario that has shocked the nation.

The 2018 play-off defeat was called “apocalyptic”. The 2021 defeat to North Macedonia was an unprecedented blow. And now, as they prepare to face Norway at the San Siro, the Italians must ask: “What stage of the apocalypse are we in?”

In the European qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup, Italy are currently second, three points behind Norway. To qualify directly, they need to win… nine goals, which is impossible. So the play-offs are almost certain to await them. And the play-offs are where they collapsed, even though the opponents at that time were not as strong as Erling Haaland’s Norway.

Italy's qualifying journey began with a 0-3 loss to Norway. A defeat that was not only heavy in terms of score, but also exposed the fragility of the team that won the European Championship three years ago.

Luciano Spalletti, the architect of Napoli’s Serie A title triumph, failed to ignite the “Azzurri” spirit. Just two days after the defeat, he told the press that he was “ready to take responsibility and be ready to leave if the Federation wants”. Although he remained in charge for one more match, the collapse of confidence had begun.

Meanwhile, Norway entered the ideal state: winning all seven of their first matches, scoring 33 goals. Haaland scored 14 goals and turned the group into a one-way race.

Italy were left behind. And when things got messy, Gennaro Gattuso appeared, a controversial but very Italian choice.

Journalist Mina Rzouki commented: “When I heard Gattuso was being targeted for the Italian national team, I only saw it as evidence of decline. Before 2006, Italy had Maldini, Cannavaro, Nesta, Totti, Del Piero... a squad so rich in talent. Even though they won the EURO, Italian football has clearly gone downhill recently.”

Gattuso arrived with great skepticism.

Gattuso arrived with great skepticism. He was fired by Fiorentina after 23 days, left Valencia in a state of exhaustion and could not last half a year at Marseille. However, for Italians, Gattuso is more than just a coach. He is a symbol of the fighting spirit of 2006, a man with a hot heart and a steel will.

“I didn’t come here to talk about the past,” Gattuso said when he took office. “I came to reclaim the pride of this shirt. Players have to fight, have to run, have to respect history.”

Surprisingly, the players responded with enthusiasm. Italy scored 18 goals in Gattuso’s first five games. They beat Estonia 5-0, Israel 5-4 in a chaotic match, and then beat both teams again in subsequent games.

Mateo Retegui exploded with five goals. Gattuso's system is uncomplicated but energetic, and that has helped them unlock an attack that has been sluggish for years.

But at the same time, the defense showed many instabilities. They made mistakes that previous Italian teams considered unacceptable. Against mid-level teams, the army in blue still showed confusion in transition phases. The speed, rhythm and defensive positioning were no longer in sync.

“We scored a lot of goals, but I want to see a team that controls the game,” Gattuso admitted after the 5-4 win over Israel. “I love the fighting spirit, but we need to be more mature. I don’t want to win in such a chaotic way.”

It was a rare admission from the usually tough Gattuso. And it was also the clearest truth about the current Italy team: strong at times, but unreliable over the course of a game.

Pressure, history and the fear of staying out of the game

Italy are winning, but winning without confidence. Their victories are not clean. They have goals, but they lack balance. The spirit is back, but the confidence is still doubtful.

Goal difference forced them to accept the reality: a direct ticket was almost impossible. And so the play-offs, which the Italians had not won for eight years, awaited.

Gattuso said frankly after the victory over Moldova: "We did not deserve to get a ticket. We have to prove more. We have to play like a big team, not just a team that scores goals."

That statement reflects the fact that Italy is not yet strong enough to decide for themselves. They lack courage. Lack stability. Lack the ability to control pressure. And those are the factors that caused them to collapse against North Macedonia, a defeat that is considered a disgrace to modern Italian football.

Italy is winning, but winning without peace of mind.

In the early morning of November 17, Italy will not only face Norway. They will have to face themselves. They will have to answer the question: "Do we have the courage to return to the World Cup?"

A match that, even if it cannot send Italy straight to the 2026 World Cup, can still bring confidence. Win, control the game, show character. That is what Italy must do to enter the play-offs with a different mindset. Otherwise, they will go into the do-or-die series with a shaky mentality, which has cost them dearly.

The prospects are there. Italy have talent, fighting spirit and a coach who knows how to inspire. But they lack the necessary security. Norway are strong, stable and have Haaland, a drill that can destroy any defence.

Italy, on the other hand, are fragile. If they fail, the World Cup door could close for the third time in a row. A real tragedy for football, once at the top of the world.

But if they want to avoid that tragedy, Italy must rediscover the old spirit, the coolness, the certainty and the faith of the generations that brought them to the throne. Italy must rediscover all of that now. Because their time is almost up.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-italy-truoc-vuc-tham-world-cup-post1603235.html