The decline of Italian football is not accidental; even managing Serie B teams poorly, Gattuso still hopes to renew his contract as national team coach.

Italian football was once filled with stars such as Baggio, Vieri, Inzaghi, Del Piero, and Totti, yet the four-time World Cup winner Italy has failed to qualify for three successive World Cups. In the UEFA playoff final for the 2026 World Cup, a ten-man Italy lost to Bosnia in a penalty shootout, missing the tournament, and Italy has now become the "European version of China's national team."

After the match, Italian coach Gattuso appeared very emotional and stated in an interview:I ask for forgiveness because I failed to lead Italy into the World Cup! Italian Football Federation president Gravina also attended the press conference and has asked Gattuso to stay; I understand the calls for my resignation. Currently, Gattuso does not intend to resign voluntarily, and both he and Gravina wish to renew his contract.

Gattuso can be considered a coach with poor managerial skills; his failure to qualify Italy for the 2026 World Cup reflects his inadequacy. His coaching record is disastrous; he even struggled to manage Serie B teams properly, yet the Italian Football Federation chose him as national team coach. It seems Italy's football issues are comparable to China's national team—problems exist from top to bottom, not just in the coaching position.

The decline of Italian football is comprehensive. First, the federation is backward, from coach selection to various related tasks, all are chaotic, with severe internal conflicts. Italy has many renowned coaches, but none willing to coach their national team is clear evidence. Second, Serie A is declining; it has regressed overall, being the only top-five league without a "€100 million" player and the only top-five league without a quarter-finalist in this Champions League. Italian leagues are落后, Serie A has become a retirement home for veterans and a backyard for disillusioned stars to regain form; Italian players rarely leave like Tonali. Third, Inter Milan players are unreliable for the national team; Italy's tradition is that fewer Inter players mean a stronger national team. From this World Cup qualifying process, the Inter contingent truly underperformed—Bastoni, Pio, and Dimarco were liabilities in key matches!