Italy risk third straight World Cup absence as 2006 winners lament two‑decade decline

March 25 : Italy's failure to develop and trust young players lies at the heart of a 20-year decline, 2006 World Cup winners Massimo Oddo and Marco Amelia told Reuters, as the Azzurri head into another playoff at risk of missing a third successive finals.

After lifting the trophy 20 years ago, Italy crashed out at the group stage in the next two editions, winning just one game. They have since missed the last two World Cups, losing out in the playoffs. 

Former goalkeeper Amelia says those results were not isolated setbacks.

"The victory in 2006 covered and hid the limits that the national system already had in terms of structures and preparation," Amelia said. 

"We didn't put enough faith in promising young players, and clubs invested too little in long-term planning.

"In Serie A there's a very high percentage of foreign players. The only way to change this is for clubs to invest more in young Italians, knowing that some of those investments might fail."

According to former defender Oddo, Italian football has been left behind.

"Other leagues have overtaken Serie A, due to economic and infrastructural factors," Oddo said.

"Before, Italian players never went abroad. Now they do, and mediocre players arrive in Italy, taking space away from Italians. Italian football should modernise the youth sector, because the talent exists, but is not well supported."

Oddo, now coach of AC Milan's reserve team, believes a complete mentality shift is needed.

"Much more should be invested in those who are called coaches, and turn them into educators," he said. 

"You have to focus a lot on the individual growth of the boys, not so much on results. Today, the coach is questioned even in the youth sector. Everyone expects results, and if results don't