Italy Legend Del Piero Calls for Humility and Reform After World Cup Failure

The former Juventus star says Italy must move past self-interest to address the country's football crisis.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:55pm

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A fragmented, multi-angled painting depicting an Italian national team match or training session, with players and the field of play broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in muted earth tones and flashes of blue, conveying the structural and cultural issues within Italian football.A fractured, cubist-inspired illustration captures the complex challenges facing Italy's national football team as it struggles to regain its former glory.Today in Miami

In a scathing assessment, Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero has called for genuine humility and structural reform within the national team setup, rather than the blame-shifting and self-preservation that has characterized the response to Italy's third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup. Del Piero argued the problems run deeper than any single individual and urged a fundamental shift in the culture around youth development.

Why it matters

As one of Italy's most revered players, Del Piero's words carry significant weight. His critique highlights the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country's football system, which has struggled to produce competitive national teams in recent years despite its proud history of success.

The details

Del Piero did not mince words, describing Italy's World Cup absence as 'embarrassing' and calling for a move away from the self-interest he believes is holding the game back. He argued that young players are over-coached, stifling their creativity, and said 'pride must be set aside' in favor of 'humility' and a willingness to study successful models elsewhere.

  • Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
  • Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
  • Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The players

Alessandro Del Piero

A legendary former Italian footballer who played as a forward, primarily for Juventus. He is considered one of the greatest Italian players of all time.

Gennaro Gattuso

The former Italian professional footballer and manager who had a brief stint as Italy's national team coach.

Gabriele Gravina

The current president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

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What they’re saying

“The first time in 2018 was a shock, the second felt like a nightmare; the third is starting to become embarrassing to justify.”

— Alessandro Del Piero, Italian football legend

“We fundamentally think only about saving our own ass. That needs to change.”

— Alessandro Del Piero, Italian football legend

“We tell youngsters too much what to do, and this kills their creativity. They become good at executing instructions but the moment they step outside that system they make mistakes and get written off as poor players.”

— Alessandro Del Piero, Italian football legend

What’s next

The Italian Football Federation will hold a press conference on April 10th to address Del Piero's criticisms and outline their plans for reforming the national team program.

The takeaway

Del Piero's scathing assessment highlights the deep-seated cultural and structural issues plaguing Italian football, which go beyond any single individual or failure. His call for humility, creativity, and a willingness to learn from others signals the need for a comprehensive overhaul if Italy is to regain its status as a global football powerhouse.