Italy must see beyond World Cup

Italy have plenty of regrets for not qualifying for the World cup, but Giancarlo Rinaldi suggests the Azzurri must see beyond Qatar 2022.

There were bittersweet smiles all around in the Azzurri’s post-match interviews. Any satisfaction for making the Nations League Final Four felt tempered by the knowledge that a certain major tournament will begin later this year with Italy absent. From a low point of World Cup qualification failure, however, this felt – like an advert for a particular shaving product – the best a fan could get.

Anyone who remembered that hurt and the humbling defeat to Germany during the summer could hardly have imagined Roberto Mancini’s side could float back to the top so quickly. That they have done so is pleasing and frustrating in equal measure. Victories like Monday night’s in Hungary are hard not to watch without an unhealthy dose of what-might-have-been.

There is no use, though, in looking backwards and instead, Italy must close their eyes and try their best to see beyond Qatar. It will be difficult to ignore the biggest festival in the global game but that is exactly what they have to do while planning to ensure their revival can last long term. For Azzurri supporters, you can wake them up when December ends.

They can also try to pick the positives out of these last couple of group games which have shown a return of the character and determination which saw the nation to Euro 2020 success. There were spells in the match against England and – much more so – against Hungary when they were on the ropes. That they were able to cover up and get the results they needed showed a resilience which will stand them in good stead when their competitive football resumes.

That they got out of the Puskas Arena with three points owed a huge amount to the resurgence of Gigio Donnarumma as one of the game’s best goalkeepers. Slated in June for blundering at the back, he produced a string of saves that were instinctive, brilliant and essential. It appeared that the home side could have loaded the ball into a cannon and fired it at his goal and he would have found a way to keep it out.

As against England, it felt that Federico Dimarco was one of the main beneficiaries of the switch to a 3-5-2 formation. His galloping runs were a constant threat to the Hungarian back line – particularly when sought out by Leo Bonucci – and he crowned two good games with a goal. Some have branded him no more than middle of the road but he looked top of the range across these particular encounters. Mancio has a habit of finding gold in what others might throw away.

Jack Raspadori was a bright spot too, at least for his finish on this occasion. Although the understanding with Wilfried Gnonto never really blossomed, his composure to take his goal was impressive. If he can keep performing at this level for La Nazionale, he should be able to look forward to a long spell in the blue of his country. The issue of who might partner him up front is more open to debate.

There were solid displays from the likes of Rafael Toloi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Bryan Cristante while Jorginho faded as Hungary threw everything at Italy and the game became more garbled. Nicolò Barella, though, kept going for most of the 90 minutes and showed why he could be a pillar of the next Azzurri regeneration. There is a spine of a team there – especially as missing players come back – which can surely get back to making major tournament qualification the formality it used to be.

For that dream to become a reality, though, Italy need to use their unwanted time off wisely and start making plans for being competitive for years to come. This mini-revival and player selection revolution will be no good if it is not a building block to more lasting success. There is a generation out there growing up which has never seen them make it through the group stages of a World Cup.

It feels as if members of the old guard have got their mojo back while new faces have come through with the right attitude to make a difference. But there is plenty of work remaining to be done to ensure that the pleasure enjoyed over the past few days can be a more permanent feeling. The wound of missing out on Qatar is still too raw and painful to be ignored – but there are early signs that the anguish can be used to fuel a genuine resurgence of the Italian national team.

@ginkers