Italy's caretaker manager warns of 'scammers' as Azzurri face World Cup void

The Italian national football team met for the first time under interim manager Baldini this week, more than a month after their elimination from World Cup qualifying. According to FOX Sports, the caretaker manager did not hold back in his analysis of the federation's problems, taking aim at what he described as 'scammers' destroying the nation's game.

Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup represents a catastrophic outcome for a football nation that won the European Championship just five years ago. The Azzurri are absent from the World Cup for the second time in a decade—they also missed 2018—a pattern that has prompted soul-searching within the federation and criticism from rival nations.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, preparing for his first World Cup as a coach, told Yahoo Sports this week that the tournament is 'not the same' without Italy and urged the Italian federation to imitate France's approach: 'Work on the foundations and develop young talent.' Garcia's remarks underscore how Italy's absence is felt across European football, where the Azzurri have historically been a fixture of major tournaments.