Italy are sadly watching other countries announce their squads for Qatar 2022 and Football Italia looks at the last Azzurri squad at a World Cup, including Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano.
The last time the Azzurri took part in the competition was in 2014 when the tournament was held in Brazil.
Cesare Prandelli was the CT then, and the Azzurri looked in shape after reaching the Final at the Euros only two years earlier.
However, they failed to go beyond the group stage, collecting three points in Group D with Uruguay, Costa Rica and England.
They won their debut game against the Three Lions 2-1 but lost to Uruguay and Costa Rica 1-0.
Their final group-stage game saw Uruguay star Luis Suarez bite Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder in one of the World Cup’s most iconic and controversial moments.
The last time Italy played a knock-out game at the World Cup was in 2006, when Marcello Lippi’s boys eventually lifted the cup in Germany.
This was the Azzurri squad at the 2014 World Cup.
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);
Defenders: Abate (Milan), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (Milan), Paletta (Parma);
Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris St. Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Paris St. Germain);
Strikers: Balotelli (Milan), Cassano (Parma), Cerci (Torino), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli).
There seems to be a pattern when Immobile is part of the Italy squad
This is so depressing
Yep, at least 12 years without world cup…
Please stop this lol
Even then that squad was pretty mediocre. Mancini started something back in the euros and the 3 years prior. Hopefully his use of younger players in the nations leagues games will carry on in the next euros and WC qualifiers. To hopefully give us some young players who are matured international players.
Now all we need is the club teams to believe in the Italian players and give them a chance in Europe!
Ok not ideal we are not competing , deeply depressing . But if we look from the year 2000 our record is not too bad in comparison to our European rivals . We have won 1 World Cup and 1 1 Euro . France 1 World Cup and 1 Euro , Spain 1 World Cup and 1 euro and Germany 1 World Cup and 0 euro. No need to mention England they are zero in both comps . So only Spain is better , we are equal with France and better than Germany . Still sad not to be at Qatar , but here is a different view .
Apologies Spain has won 2 euros