Can 'risky' Gattuso lead Italy back to World Cup?

Gennaro Gattuso was appointed Italy manager last June after Luciano Spalletti was sacked [Getty Images] Champions. Group Stage. Group Stage.

Did not qualify. Did not qualify. Since winning the World Cup for the fourth time in 2006, Italy's record at football's biggest tournament has been dismal.

Despite winning the delayed Euros in 2021, Italy have not even qualified for a World Cup since 2014, which feels staggering for a nation of their stature. Now, Gennaro Gattuso, a midfielder from the 2006 side who has managed 10 clubs in 12 years, has been tasked with ending the wait to return to the biggest stage. But can he take the four-time champions back to where they belong?

'It's an opportunity to write our names in history' Italy's bid to reach the 2026 World Cup was only one game in when Luciano Spalletti announced he had been sacked as manager in June. Daniele Verri, an Italian football journalist, said "there wasn't many options" to replace Spalletti, who guided his country to an underwhelming last-16 finish at Euro 2024. Spalletti had led Napoli to the Serie A title before landing the Italian job, but Verri said players "were confused" by an overload of information and that played a role in his departure.