Italy is out of the WC... again!

This Friday should have been a day like any other for Italians. They would have got up for breakfast, chatted with the people around them and thought about organising their weekend with friends and family. All this should probably have happened with positive feelings, with joy, but unfortunately it was not to be. The bitter taste left by Macedonia's goal in the 90th minute last night will stay with them for a long time and lead them to reflect deeply on what happened. A reflection that we can all share on this occasion.

Nothing like this has ever happened before: failing to qualify for the World Cup twice in a row is a historic event that Italians certainly did not want, but now they must face reality and, unfortunately, they have had to live through it. Now they will have to pick themselves up, take a quick look at the past to help them plan for the future in the best possible way. Where should they start again? What did they do wrong? What needs to change? These are all difficult questions to answer at the moment, but after a sleepless night and after analysing the words of the Azzurri, we would like to offer our humble and personal opinion on what has happened.

During yesterday's interviews, we heard the words ‘finishing’ and ‘creativity’ mentioned many times, characteristics that, according to many, have been lacking since the end of the European Championship. We couldn't agree more: it's a statistical fact that goals have been lacking, that desire to score and celebrate. Should Balotelli have been there instead of Immobile? Was Scamacca needed? Well, it is not up to us to answer all these questions; only coach Mancini knows who is best, but we all agree on one thing: there is a lack of a reliable striker in the final third.

Another topic that is always hotly debated is that concerning young players and the various sectors that protect their training process. Are things being done right? Is enough time being devoted to this area, or is greater investment needed? Honestly, we thought (and still think) that things have been improving for some years now. In Italy, there are many young players to rely on who have emerged in recent years: players such as Chiesa, Scamacca, and Zaniolo, among others. We have real gems on our hands that just need polishing; the future and the present lie with them, and that is why we must start to trust them more.

Stadiums. Stadiums in Italy are the only ones that do not have a modern design; they are the same as they always have been, and if a club decides to renovate the venue that hosts the spectacle every Sunday, it takes many years, as is the case with Fiorentina.

Italian teams can only compete at the national level. When it comes to facing English, German or Spanish teams, the feeling is that they have lost before they even start. Often it is not just a feeling, but a reality. The last Champions League won by an Italian team was in 2010 with Mourinho's Inter Milan. Since then, there has been a complete void; only Juventus came close, but without actually achieving it. 

The young players on successful Italian teams are not usually Italian. The latest striker to drive Europe crazy is Vlahović, a Serbian player who trained at Fiorentina. After a truly killer season, Juventus signed him for many millions, despite already having Kean on the squad. Why is Vlahović successful and Kean is not? This is just one of many cases in which Italian players are outmatched physically. Is it because Italians are inferior footballers? We don't think this is the problem, but it's clear that something needs to change.

What do you think about Italy's exclusion?