Italy risks missing a third straight World Cup, exposing a two-decade decline, according to 2006 champions Massimo Oddo and Marco Amelia.
They blame a failure to develop young talent and outdated structures in Italian football.
Amelia said the 2006 win masked deep-rooted flaws. "We didn't put enough faith in promising young players," he said, citing club underinvestment and Serie A’s reliance on foreigners.
Oddo pointed to economic and infrastructural gaps. "Other leagues have overtaken us. Mediocre foreign players now take spots from Italians."
Both stressed youth development must shift from results-driven pressure to long-term growth. "Coaches are replaced at youth levels for poor results," Oddo said. "That favors readiness over potential."
The Euro 2020 win, they argue, was not a revival. "Chiellini was perhaps the last truly great Italian defender," Oddo noted.
Italy now faces Northern Ireland in a playoff semi-final in Bergamo, with Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina awaiting in the final.
"Failing to qualify would be an enormous blow," Oddo warned, "especially economically and culturally."
Amelia remained focused on reform: "Even if we qualify, the problems remain. This is reality."