Gianni Rivera has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next FIGC president, making an informal declaration of candidacy on the same day that Gabriele Gravina finally tendered his resignation following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination.
The 82-year-old, who in 1969 became the first Italian to win the Ballon d’Or, announced his interest during the radio programme Caffè on Rai Radio 1 Sport, via CalcioEFinanza.
“I am ready to become FIGC president because I have a very specific programme that I have developed with friends, including the son of Angelo Sormani,” Rivera said. “It is a model we are studying and preparing that could perhaps be useful for the federation.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JUNE 03: Gianni Rivera and head coach of Italy Luciano Spalletti after a press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 03, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Rivera: ‘No surprise that Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup’
The former AC Milan legend was candid about the scale of the problems facing Italian football.
“There is no reason to be surprised about failing to qualify for the World Cup, I have to say that honestly,” he said. “At this moment there are serious problems that are difficult to overcome. We have shown that we have not overcome them.”
Any candidate wishing to stand in the election must submit formal documentation by 7 June, with the vote itself scheduled for 22 June.
The FIGC presidency is decided by an assembly of 516 weighted votes spread across Italian football’s various stakeholder groups.
The Lega Nazionale Dilettanti hold the largest share at 34%, followed by the players’ association at 20%, Serie A clubs at 18%, coaches at 10%, Lega Pro at 12% and Serie B at 6%. A candidate requires an absolute majority of validly cast votes, including blank ballots, to be elected.
Rivera’s candidacy is not yet official, but the intervention of one of Italian football’s most iconic figures adds a fascinating dimension to what promises to be a hotly contested race to reshape the game’s governing structures.
New Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that he will stay at the club if they are relegated to the EFL Championship, after signing a five-year contract that he describes as the ‘most important challenge’ in his career.
Speaking to the club’s official X account, the Italian gave a lengthy interview where he discussed why he chose to join Tottenham and what needs to happen to get the club out of their ‘difficult moment.’
“I’m very very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world and so I’m very happy. I have a big responsibility but it’s a big challenge forme and I look forward to start, work with the players and win some games.”
De Zerbi did not sugarcoat the challenge on his hands, making no light of the difficult predicament the North London club find themselves in.
Spurs are just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play, and De Zerbi has been brought in expeditiously in order to help boost their survival chances.
“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many games per week. I know everything, I know its a tough moment for Tottenham. But I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone in Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.”
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
De Zerbi: ‘I believe in the players’
One frequently recurring message of De Zerbi’s interview was the undeniable faith he holds in the squad.
“I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are, and who the players are because we have very big players. And we have to work with confidence in them and their qualities. They have to show what they are what they are used to playing.”
He then stressed the need to take it a game at a time, and not get too caught up with hypotheticals at this stage.
“I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game,I don’t want to speak about the schedule or the Brighton game or the Wolves game. Game by game, we have to prepare the players to win the game and to be focused just on the game.”
Last time we heard an Italian talking about the ‘history of Tottenham’, Giorgio Chiellini became meme immortal. This time, De Zerbi was a little more serious.
“We have to play with courage. We have to play with the qualities of the players, because if I accepted this challenge, it is because I have a lot of confidence in the players and the history of Tottenham football is a very clear style of play.
“The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment, are crucial. We have to be together, they have to stay close to the players and the players have to give the right mentality and the right attitude to give back to the fans satisfaction and what they want to see on the pitch.
“Because after this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”
Roberto De Zerbi (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
De Zerbi talks footballing philosophy & confirms he will coach Spurs next season
De Zerbi was asked about his philosophy and what Spurs fans can expect from his style of play.
“I think it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy in football. I’m here now, at the end for the season because we have to win games. And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important.. But it’s a mentality and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality we can show.”
He then confirmed that he will be in charge next season, even if the club are relegated.
“I signed 5 years of contract because for me it’s a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”
The Italian did briefly touch upon his outlook on play and what he expects from his players, but stressed the need to tailor and adapt to what he has available to him in terms of players.
“I love keeping the ball, I love ball possession. I love creating chances, the chance to score. But in the same time, I love 11 defenders when we don’t have the ball because in this time of football we have to attack with 11 players, the keeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not with us.
“I think in this moment we do not have time to work too much in more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have good organisation with and without the ball.
“We have to consider the qualities of the players.We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”
Finally, De Zerbi concluded with a touching homage to the sport
“Many times I’ve said football is my life and my life is football. But it’s true because football is my work. I respect football because football gave me everything. And for me, it’s not real work, it’s a passion.
“If I stay at home I watch football, If I work I watch football and nothing changes. For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, it’s maybe the most important challenge in my career. I’m ready to start this challenge and I go to work with my characteristics, passion, vision of football and knowledge as well.
Roberto De Zerbi has given his first interview as the new head coach of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur today, after he was announced as Igor Tudor’s replacement on a five-year deal.
Speaking to the club’s official social media accounts, De Zerbi broke his silence on the backlash he has received after his handling of Mason Greenwood at Marseille.
Reports this week revisited comments the Italian coach made at the end of last year, where he praised Mason Greenwood’s character and sympathised with the former Manchester United forward.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour in 2022. All charges were dropped the following February.
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
De Zerbi: ‘I never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women’
Speaking in Italian, to make himself as clear as possible on the issue, which has caused Tottenham Hotspur supporters groups to express concern with his appointment, De Zerbi said:
‘I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women, or violence against anyone more broadly.
‘In my life, I’ve always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently foughtand taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.
‘Those of you who know me well will know that I’m not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. Im sorry if I offended anyone’s feeling with this subject matter.
‘I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.’
Massimiliano Allegri faces a significant attacking headache ahead of Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Napoli, with both Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic serious doubts for a fixture that could have major implications for Milan’s second-place finish and their fading title hopes.
According to Pazzidifanta, Leão has been managing a pubic inflammation that forced him to train separately in the days before the international break.
The Portuguese winger spent much of the break in Portugal, with the club’s agreement, undergoing specialist medical assessments, and his availability for Sunday remains uncertain.
Pulisic, meanwhile, endured a difficult spell with the United States national team and is considered unlikely to start even if he is passed fit.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Niclas Fullkrug of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fullkrug & Nkunku could partner up for Milan against Napoli
The absences of two such important and distinctive attacking players represent a considerable challenge for Allegri, who must find a way to unlock Conte’s well-organised Napoli defence without his most creative wide options.
Niklas Füllkrug is the most likely candidate to lead the line, having started against Torino in the last Serie A fixture.
Should Pulisic miss out entirely, Christopher Nkunku, who has not started since February’s match against Como, could come in alongside the German, offering greater movement and quality between the lines.
Santiago Gimenez is another option after the Mexican made his return from injury as a substitute against Torino, though his fitness levels after months on the sidelines make a starting role a stretch.
The most probable outcome is Nkunku partnering either Füllkrug or Gimenez, two players more comfortable linking play with their back to goal than the dynamic, direct duo they would be replacing.
The German defender underwent clinical and instrumental examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano on Thursday morning, with results revealing a mild muscle strain in the flexors of his right thigh.
However, Bisseck will not be available for selection against Roma and will not even be named in the squad.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Yann Bisseck competes for the ball with Pervis Estupinanof AC Milan during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Bisseck absence a blow for Chivu & Inter ahead of must-win Roma match
The news is a blow for Cristian Chivu, for whom Bisseck has become an established starter in the back three this season.
With the Italian title race entering its decisive phase and Inter holding a six-point lead over Milan, the coach will need to reorganise his defensive options for a fixture that carries significant weight.
Inter’s statement added that Bisseck’s condition will be reassessed in the coming days, suggesting the club are hopeful the injury will not keep him sidelined for an extended period beyond Sunday’s match.
The timing of the setback, coming just days before one of the season’s most important fixtures, is nonetheless far from ideal for a squad that has also had to manage the emotional fallout of Italy’s World Cup elimination, with several Nerazzurri players heavily involved in the playoff defeat to Bosnia.
Tarik Muharemovic was in a magnanimous mood after Bosnia’s World Cup playoff victory over Italy, offering warm words for a country where he has built his club career while celebrating the realisation of a lifelong dream.
The Sassuolo defender, who plays his club football in Serie A, spoke to Swiss Italian channel RSI in the immediate aftermath of the penalty shootout win, carefully navigating the emotional complexity of eliminating a nation he clearly holds in genuine affection.
“My dream was to play at the World Cup with Bosnia, the greatest dream of all of us,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“All my respect to Italy, my friends and brothers.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Bosnia star Muharemovic: ‘I’m very happy in Italy, I never lost respect’
He was also keen to clarify comments from a previous interview that had apparently been misinterpreted.
“I hope they did not take it badly, because I have many friends and brothers there. I am very happy in Italy. I have never lost respect, I know where I come from and that I am humble. Italy is always in my heart.”
On the match itself, Muharemovic acknowledged how difficult the Azzurri had made things despite playing with ten men for the majority of the contest following Bastoni’s red card.
“They tried everything, even with one fewer player, and it was not easy to hold on for 120 minutes. I am sorry for them.”
His pride in Bosnia’s achievement, however, was unmistakable.
“Bosnia is back and making itself known, this is only the beginning. We can show much more.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
With the World Cup now on the horizon, his message was simple. “We are ready. Now we celebrate, then we think about the World Cup.”
Luciano Moggi has launched a scathing attack on the state of Italian football in the wake of the Azzurri’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, calling for Gabriele Gravina to resign and demanding that Sports Minister Andrea Abodi intervene to force genuine structural change.
The former Juventus and Napoli director, speaking on Radio Tutto Napoli, drew a direct line between Italy’s current crisis and the fallout from the Calciopoli scandal of 2006, arguing that Italian football has been in terminal decline ever since its last major triumph.
“Remember that the last great result was in 2006, when we won the World Cup with a strong leadership structure,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“From that point, with the dawn of Calciopoli, Italian football was finished.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: (L-R) President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio, President of FIGC Gabriele Gravina and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin look on prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Moggi: ‘Italy broken at the core: the fish rots from the head, Gravina must step aside’
On Gravina, Moggi was unsparing. “The national team is a mirror of the system, if we have been eliminated three times, it means something is fundamentally broken at the base. The fish rots from the head, and therefore Gabriele Gravina should step aside. He has been neither lucky nor up to the task.”
His prescription for recovery was equally blunt. “We need to start from zero, a total clean-out. Minister Abodi should intervene seriously. Enough talk: what is needed is a real revolution.”
The suggestion that political intervention may be the only way to force meaningful change at the FIGC reflects a growing mood in Italy that the federation is incapable of reforming itself from within.
Moggi also backed Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis in his calls for a restructuring of Serie A.
“De Laurentiis is right, a general overhaul is needed because things cannot continue like this,” he said. “Today we have reached the point of being afraid of teams like Bosnia. That says everything.”
Gianfranco Zola has called for a fundamental rethink of how Italian football develops its young players, insisting the country must address deep structural problems if it is to avoid repeating the pain of a third consecutive World Cup absence.
The former Chelsea and Italy forward, speaking in his role as vice-president of Lega Pro ahead of the Serie C Coppa Italia final between Latina and Potenza, was visibly affected by Tuesday’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia, and used his platform to deliver a message that went well beyond the result itself.
“The failure to participate in the World Cup is something we feel deeply,” Zola told Rai Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“Football here is very important, and what happened yesterday has hit me hard. We must take stock of the problem and work to address it, understanding that our young players are extremely important.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Gianfranco Zola reacts prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on October 17, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Zola: ‘Italy must start again from the ground up’
Zola was clear that the solutions need to come from the bottom of the game upward rather than from any quick fix at international level.
“We must start from the ground up and think about recreating the conditions to give quality to our young players,” he said.
“There is a very important and far-reaching piece of work to be done.” He also highlighted the need for continuity in young players’ development, arguing that talented youngsters must be given consistent opportunities to compete rather than being sidelined at club level.
As Lega Pro vice-president, Zola has a direct stake in that process, and he was keen to emphasise that the third tier of Italian football has a meaningful role to play.
“We as Lega Pro continue to work to encourage clubs to invest more and more in growing our young players in the best possible way,” he said.
He concluded with a message aimed squarely at the next generation.
“Coaches and facilities are fundamental, but the players themselves will also need to work hard. Commitment, vocation and dedication are what it takes to become true sportspeople.”
Manuel Locatelli has become the latest Italy player to break his silence following the Azzurri’s agonising World Cup playoff elimination, posting an emotional and unflinching message on social media that accepted collective responsibility while vowing to never stop giving everything for the national team.
The Juventus captain’s statement arrives as a wave of public grief continues to wash over Italian football in the days since Wednesday’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia in Zenica.
Leonardo Spinazzola spoke in the immediate aftermath of the match, Gianluigi Donnarumma followed today, and now Locatelli has added his voice, each message reflecting a squad still struggling to process the enormity of a third consecutive failure to reach the World Cup.
Italy had gone into the match with genuine optimism following the victory over Northern Ireland, only for Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card to fundamentally alter the complexion of the contest.
A 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, no goals in extra time, and ultimate heartbreak in the shootout, a sequence that has left the entire country searching for answers.
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Manuel Locatelli of Italy shouts instructions during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Locatelli: ‘We failed, I’m devastated’
“I am devastated, drained, with tears in my eyes,” Locatelli wrote, before addressing the supporters who had backed the team throughout the campaign.
“We felt the responsibility towards the children, the families, the grandparents and all the Italians who supported us. We gave everything and I am proud of this group. We players, the manager and all the staff were united for this dream. We gave every last drop of energy, but we were not able to give you this World Cup.”
He did not shy away from the uncomfortable truth.
“We failed, that is the reality. And I feel the full weight of it.” Despite the pain, Locatelli struck a defiant closing note, mirroring Donnarumma’s call to move forward. “It is hard, incredibly hard, but let us get back up together. There will not be a single day when I do not give everything of myself on the pitch.”
Former Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has delivered one of the more colourful verdicts on Gabriele Gravina’s refusal to resign following Italy’s World Cup playoff elimination, suggesting the FIGC president should be doing far more than simply stepping down.
“It seems impossible to me that the federation president has not resigned,” Viviano told Radio Firenzeviola, via LLSN. “If I were in his position, I would emigrate.”
Speaking on Radio Firenzeviola, the former Serie A stopper did not limit his criticism to those at the top of the federation.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – JUNE 4: President Gabriele Gravina of the FIGC looks on during the international Friendly match between Italy and Turkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on June 4, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Vivano slams Italy academies: ‘Nothing is built, nothing is taught’
Drawing on his experience as a father of children currently playing youth football, Viviano pointed to a fundamental failure at grassroots level as a root cause of Italy’s repeated international failures.
“We are one of the best countries in sport, alongside the Balkan nations we have an incredible variety of talent and we are naturally predisposed to succeed in sport,” he said.
“But in football academies nothing is being built and nothing is being taught. It all comes down to ‘today I won, today I lost’, and nothing more.”
It is a damning assessment that echoes the broader frustration being expressed across Italian football in the 24 hours since Wednesday’s penalty shootout defeat in Zenica.
With Gravina yet to show any sign of stepping aside despite mounting pressure from politicians, former players and the public alike, the calls for fundamental change, both at the top and at the grassroots, show no sign of abating.
Franco Baresi has called for Italian football to conduct a collective examination of conscience following the Azzurri’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, while defending Gennaro Gattuso from the bulk of the criticism being directed his way.
The Milan legend and former Italy captain spoke to Adnkronos in the aftermath of Wednesday’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, acknowledging that key incidents on the night had worked against the Azzurri while insisting the deeper problems extend far beyond a single match or manager.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Baresi: ‘Italian football must do a ‘mea culpa’, Gattuso not to blame’
“Yesterday there were episodes that conditioned the match negatively for our team,” Baresi said, a reference to Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card, which left Italy with ten men for the majority of the contest.
“But Italy cannot keep arriving at the last stage just to play for qualification. The whole of Italian football must do a mea culpa, because the results of the last twenty years are there for everyone to see, with the isolated exception of the European Championship triumph.”
Despite that broad indictment of the system, Baresi was notably protective of Gattuso.
“In these months he gave everything, his soul, and in my opinion he also did a good job with the little time he had available,” he said. “Unfortunately it was not enough. It is not for me to say whether he should continue, but he is certainly among the least responsible for this defeat.”
It is a sentiment that contrasts sharply with some of the more sweeping criticism aimed at the coaching staff since Wednesday night, and one that reflects a broader view that Italy’s problems are structural rather than the product of any individual failure.
Fabio Capello has delivered a scathing assessment of Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, describing the defeat to Bosnia as a national disgrace and calling for the entire FIGC leadership to accept responsibility and step down.
The former England, Milan and Real Madrid manager spoke to Spanish newspaper Marca in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday night’s penalty shootout defeat in Zenica, and made no attempt to soften his words.
“I could not sleep all night, I still cannot believe what happened,” he said, with quotes via LLSN. “We are talking about a four-time world champion. This is a sporting tragedy, a disgrace. It is one of the worst things to have happened to Italian football in its recent history.”
Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)
Capello questions lack of resignations after Italy disaster
Capello’s sharpest criticism, however, was reserved not for the players or the coaching staff but for those at the top of the game’s administration.
“Nobody is resigning here, and that is the most worrying thing,” he said. “The first person who should take responsibility is the president of the federation, along with the entire leadership.”
The 79-year-old was equally clear that the problem runs far deeper than a single bad result.
“This is not just about results, it is structural,” he said. “Italy needs to reinvent itself. We must bring together the experts, analyse what is happening and begin a reconstruction from the foundations. It will be very difficult to recover from this, but I trust it will serve as the beginning of a genuine renewal.”
With Gravina yet to signal any intention to resign despite growing pressure from all directions, Capello’s words add another prominent voice to what is becoming an overwhelming chorus of calls for change.
Claudio Lotito has taken the remarkable step of launching a petition in the Italian Senate calling for FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to resign, in the fallout from Italy’s devastating World Cup playoff final defeat to Bosnia on penalties.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Lazio president and Forza Italia senator is using his political platform to pile pressure on Gravina, who has so far given no indication that he intends to step down despite overseeing a third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Italy drew 1-1 after 90 minutes in Zenica, with Alessandro Bastoni’s red card in the first half leaving the Azzurri with ten men for the vast majority of the match. No goals in extra time saw the tie go to penalties, where Italy were ultimately eliminated.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: (L-R) President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio, President of FIGC Gabriele Gravina and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin look on prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Gravina days numbered as FIGC chief resists for now
The political pressure on Gravina is now considerable.
The Sports Minister has already publicly called on him to resign, and the FIGC president has convened an emergency meeting for tomorrow afternoon in Rome, bringing together representatives from Serie A, Serie B, Serie C, the amateur leagues, coaches’ and players’ associations, to assess the situation ahead of a full Federal Council meeting next week.
Gravina, who was re-elected unopposed relatively recently despite the previous two World Cup absences, faces the biggest crisis of his tenure, and with Lotito now mobilising political opposition from within the Senate itself, the calls for his departure are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
It’s safe to say we were not entertained last night as Italy crashed out of their World Cup play-off final with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia.
In the aftermath, there has been no shortage of reaction: from ex-players and coaches, to current figures involved at the heart of Italian football, everyone has had their two cents to say after that dismal night in the Balkans.
The exit has send earthquakes throughout the world though, not just in Italy.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Players show their dejection of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Lack of Strength & Honour sends Italy packing
Gladiator star Russell Crowe has had a long-standing connection with Italian football, ever since his appearance in the 2000 Best Picture winning film.
On several occasions, the New Zealand-born Australian actor has spoken about his love for the city of Rome and, specifically, Lazio.
Crowe has been pictured and filmed talking about his love for the club on numerous occasions, and today he spoke once again about the world of Calcio.
However, this time he dedicated a heartfelt message for Italy, writing: ‘A dark dawn for Italy, the day after failed qualification. Again. How is it possible with so much talent? I feel sick for the nation.
Un’alba buia per l’Italia. Il giorno dopo la mancata qualificazione. Di nuovo.
Com’è possibile con così tanto talento? Mi sento male per conto della nazione.
Login
