Ranocchia's statement on the problems in the development of Italian football

Former Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia spoke about Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Idman.Biz reports that the Italians, coached by Gennaro Gattuso, lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final of the qualifying round (1:1, 1:4 on penalties).

"I would explain it with four main reasons. Of course, the first is a cultural issue - fewer and fewer children are playing in the streets. Youth academies are still functioning, but the fact that children no longer spend an extra four or five hours with their friends in the yard on local pitches certainly plays a role in our inability to develop the great talent we once had.

Coaches once had a wider selection, but now it is always very limited. Of course, the infrastructure situation also affects others, not just professional teams that are in excellent condition: if I, as a parent, had to choose a sports school for my child, and the pitch is of poor quality or the changing rooms are in poor condition, I might prefer them to try other sports, so fewer children play football.

Another problem is training methodology. In recent years, we have been increasingly inclined towards athletic football and pay less attention to the basic technique that helps to take the first step to becoming a quality footballer. I can even see this in my son: the methodology we used to use, the basics... Football is a thing of the past.

In addition, the problem is that players in the national team and in Serie A find it difficult to beat their opponents individually. Of course, Italy has a high-quality tactical base and excellent players, but we don't have those who can create a numerical advantage - we always try to enter the penalty area by keeping the ball at our feet through passes or combinations.

This play-off was certainly difficult for Italy; the pressure was too great and many players struggled to cope. This is frustrating. The truth is: football needs change; maybe we need to take a few steps back. Of course, politicians must also help and invest, because otherwise this may not be the last World Cup we do not participate in," Sport Mediaset quotes Ranocchia.