When Italy won the European Championships last summer, it felt like this was a fresh start for the Azzurri. The pain of missing out on the 2018 World Cup, and the lingering sense of mediocrity that pervaded Italian football in the mid-late 2010s had suddenly been washed away, made small in light of the monumental triumph achieved by Roberto Mancini’s team at Wembley.
Yes, this was the new beginning, the early days of an era where Italy would frequently compete at the highest level once again. As Italian celebrations filled the London night after the victory over England on penalties, Mancini must have thought he had finally cracked the code.
Unfortunately, the bubble has burst in rather short order. Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, finishing second in their qualification group behind Switzerland, before inexplicably losing their play-off semi-final against North Macedonia. The team that was crowned kings of Europe last summer suddenly looked directionless, as the failures of the past reared their ugly head and consumed the Azzurri once again.
Mancini, whilst bitterly disappointed at his failure to guide Italy to the World Cup, will not shy away from the challenge of rebuilding despite the team’s status declining in the latest football odds. The retirement of Georgio Chiellini, who is heading to the MLS, means Italy are losing one of their strongest leaders, but that brings with it an opportunity for Mancini to promote a more youthful contingent of players.
Indeed, as counter-intuitive as it sounds, Mancini’s best chance of bringing Italy back from the brink could involve a move away from the players who delivered Italy’s Euro 2020 success. The likes of Emerson Palmieri and Federico Bernadeschi have long been favourites of Mancini, but they are not the players who are going to spearhead a revival. Italy’s miserable 3-0 defeat to Argentina in the Finalissima at Wembley demonstrated that.
There is a sense that Italy’s future hopes lie with the manager’s willingness to play those who are enjoying good runs of form with their club sides, or who are young and eager to impress on the biggest stage. There were positive signs in Italy’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany in Bologna, as a youthful side produced a display full of courage and stood up well against one of the best teams in the world.
Indeed, the Nations League gives Mancini a good opportunity to experiment with his team selection and tactics. The matches don’t carry the same pressure and intensity as World Cup qualifiers, and as a result he can let his players express themselves more. With tough matches against Germany, England and Hungary, Mancini will get a good sense for how prepared his team will be for the Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
The challenge lies in balancing the exuberance of youth with the requirement for experienced heads, but that is the test for any international manager. Mancini has already proven he can coach a team to international glory — now he must prove he has the talent to take a group of players that are hurting and instil a burning desire to get back to the top.