For the third consecutive time, Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Equally surprising is that the Italian team exited the World Cup qualifying series when a relatively young team, Bosnia and Herzegovina, defeated it. Although the elimination happened through a penalty shootout, the teams reached that point after a 1-1 draw.
The last time Italy won the World Cup was in 2006, marking their fourth World Cup win. This means the football fraternity considers Italy to be in the same league as Germany and Brazil, even though Brazil has won five times.
Why Italy Has Recently Fared so Badly in the World Cup
Asked why Italy is faring so badly, one Italian analyst said the country has not invested in modernizing football for a long time. He cited old, neglected stadiums and outdated football training methods still in use right from school.
Another reason, the analyst said, was that many Italian clubs hire outside players to help win club games. Therefore, when it is time for the World Cup, the country struggles to assemble a competitive team. Meanwhile, the foreign club players go back to their countries and add value to their home teams.
Still, the world of football is hopeful that Italy will bounce back. Many have bright memories or heard stories about players like Paolo Rossi, Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso, Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, and others, who made Italy a household name.