Cannavaro warning: ‘Italy risk throwing away football culture’

Fabio Cannavaro won the 2006 World Cup with current coach Gennaro Gattuso as a teammate, but warns Italy ‘risk throwing away our football culture, which for a long time the entire world envied.’

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The Azzurri missed out on both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the biggest tournament in football, and now have to get through the play-offs, starting with the semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday.

If they win that, then the final will be against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31, as only one team can make it to the competition in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Cannavaro represents Italy legends

“Winning a World Cup is the dream of every footballer, of every age and era. As the years go by, you appreciate that success even more,” Cannavaro told The Mirror newspaper.

“Since July 9, 2006, the day we won the final against France in Berlin, we, Italy’s World Champions, have been seen as legends. Even today in Italy that triumph is often cited as an example, amplified by the fact that Italian football is currently going through a significant crisis.

“Italy did not participate in the 2018 World Cup nor the 2022 one. And participation in the 2026 World Cup is not yet certain. There is a risk of throwing away our football culture, which for a long time the entire world envied.”

It is precisely because of his role in the squad that lifted the trophy in 2006 that Gattuso has been picked as their current coach, with Gigi Buffon in his management staff.

He took over in June 2025 when Luciano Spalletti was sacked two games into the World Cup qualifying campaign, having already lost 3-0 away to Norway.

They were always chasing the top of that group and it was already practically impossible to overturn the goal difference when they went head-to-head in a 4-1 home defeat in November 2025.

Although Italy have not participated in the last two editions of the World Cup, they did win silverware in that time, securing the EURO 2020 trophy.