Spalletti before the out: Italy is worried about participating in World Cup 2026!

Spalletti before the out: Italy is worried about participating in World Cup 2026!

The Italian national team faces a difficult future. Luciano Spalletti, who has acted as a team leader since September 2023, has announced that it was out of office on Monday after the upcoming qualification game against the Republic of Moldova. This decision follows a disastrous 0: 3 defeat against Norway, which drastically reduced the hopes for a World Cup participation in 2026. Spalletti emphasized that he was released from his post and that this decision did not make on his own. "I didn't intend to give up," said the trainer, who had to deal with the association immediately after the defeat.

Spalletti, 66 years old, is visibly disappointed with the outcome of his coaching period. Those responsible for the Italian Football Association, including association president Gabriele Gravina, informed him about the decision to separate. In interviews, Spalletti regretted the circumstances of his dismissal and confirmed that he had always had a good relationship with the head of the association. "I see my role as a service on the fatherland and I want to help the national team," he added.

The current challenges of the national team

Italy is under considerable pressure, since the World Cup has already been missed twice in a row and there is the possibility not to participate in the world's largest football tournament in 2026. High expectations were linked to Spalletti, especially after his successes with SSC Naples two years ago. However, these expectations have not yet been met. Under his leadership, the Azzurri only reached the round of 16 of the Euro 2024 and had to admit defeat in the UEFA Nations League in the quarterfinals.

After the catastrophic defeat against Norway, Spalletti must now also lead the upcoming game against the Republic of Moldova before he wants to dissolve his contract. The trainer took responsibility for the weak performance and states that he had not brought the best out of the available players. He found this knowledge as part of his feedback after the last game, which is considered the turning point for the national team.

successor in the room

The search for a new trainer has already started. In addition to Claudio Ranieri, the former coach of AS Rome, other names such as Stefano Pioli are also considered a possible successor. Ranieri had originally planned to retire after this season, but could return to football through the new challenge. The Italian association is now facing the task of deciding who the team can lead to a hopefully more successful future.

The situation for Italian football could not be more critical in view of the recent developments. As reports [Laola1] (https://www.laola1.at/de/fussball/wm-2026/news/wm-itiebt-in-glaub --italien-coach-steht-vor-aus-/aus-/ The pressure to master the World Cup qualification will be enormous for the next trainer. Spalletti leaves a heir that is characterized by high demands, but also painful defeats.