Andrea Pirlo, a pivotal figure in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph, has offered a sobering assessment of the national team’s current state, describing it as “left behind” by the evolving landscape of global football. His comments come just eight weeks after the Azzurri suffered a humiliating defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualification play-off final, marking their third successive failure to reach the World Cup.
“It’s been a while since Italian football was at its best. Football has changed and unfortunately we’ve been left behind,” Pirlo told SPORTbible. The legendary midfielder, whose 2006 World Cup-winning squad boasted an average age of 26.7 – with Daniele De Rossi, the youngest, being 22 – believes a radical shift in mentality and player development is long overdue. He emphasized the need for evolution, stating that Italy can no longer cling to the “mentality of 20 years ago” when they were considered masters of organisation, quality, and tactics.
A new generation emerges
In response to this unprecedented crisis, the Italian national team appears to be embarking on a significant generational change. Interim manager Silvio Baldini has signaled a clear intent by selecting a remarkably young squad for upcoming friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece. This new-look squad has an average age of just 20 years and six months, a stark contrast to the experienced line-ups of the past.
Among those receiving their first senior call-ups are several promising talents:
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Borussia Dortmund teenager Samuele Inacio
Francesco Camarda
Francesco Pio Esposito
Davide Bartesaghi
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Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli
Pirlo expressed optimism about this youth movement, hoping it will “open a new cycle” for Italian football. While acknowledging that some players might return to the Under-21 setup, he believes others possess the quality to establish themselves in the national team, specifically highlighting Pisilli and Esposito as exciting prospects.
Champions League final highlights talent gap
Despite the hope for a new generation, Pirlo did not shy away from critiquing the current quality of Italian players on the grandest stage. With the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain set to take place in Budapest this Saturday night, Pirlo lamented the absence of Italian talent capable of performing at that elite level.
“Right now in Italy, there are no players who could perform at the level required for a Champions League final,” Pirlo asserted. “They are good players for the Italian league, but at the moment, unfortunately, we don’t have players who have that big identity like the ones I mentioned.”
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Pirlo, who gives Paris Saint-Germain a 60% chance of winning the final after their previous year’s triumph and semi-final victory over Bayern, pointed to players like Vitinha and Declan Rice as examples of the central midfield prowess Italy currently lacks. He particularly praised Vitinha as a “master of the game” with great vision, noting the PSG midfielder’s ability to consistently control play and escape difficult situations.
Sources: www.sportbible.com
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