Italy’s sports minister has urged Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian soccer federation (FIGC), to step down following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup on Tuesday.
Italy suffered a penalty shootout defeat to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoffs, a disappointing outcome that follows their elimination at the same stage by Sweden before the 2018 World Cup and North Macedonia in 2022.
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“It’s clear to all that Italian soccer requires a complete overhaul,” stated Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. “This change must begin with new leadership at the FIGC.”
Despite the national team’s struggles, Gravina remains in his position, having also survived the fallout from the 2022 qualifying failure.
“Next week, we will deeply reflect on the situation,” Gravina commented, suggesting the possibility of calling for a new election for the FIGC presidency. “There are numerous factors to evaluate.”
As for Italy’s head coach Gennaro Gattuso, he has not indicated his future plans following his appointment after Luciano Spalletti’s dismissal due to an initial qualifying loss to Norway last year.
“I’m not focused on my future today,” Gattuso said after the defeat in Bosnia. “This loss hurts deeply, not just for me, but especially for this group that has given everything. I believe we deserved a different outcome, and it’s premature to discuss my future now.”
Gattuso’s contract extends until the conclusion of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic extension until 2028 contingent upon Italy qualifying for the tournament in North America.
While Gattuso remains undecided, the Italian federation seems eager for him to continue, with Gravina stating, “I must commend Gattuso. He has been an exceptional coach, and I’ve urged him to stay in charge of this team.”
The challenges faced by Italian soccer go beyond the national team. The last club to win the Champions League was Inter Milan in 2010, and this season all four Italian teams were eliminated before the quarterfinals.
Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi remarked, “Unfortunately, the third consecutive World Cup exit is not a joke; it highlights a significant failure in Italian soccer. Football is more than entertainment in our nation; it is ingrained in our culture and national identity.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.