Italy's World Cup absence forces federation reckoning as Baldini era ends

Italy's friendly against Greece on Sunday marked the second and final match under caretaker coach Silvio Baldini, whose tenure ends as the federation begins its search for a permanent successor. The Azzurri, who stunned observers by failing to qualify for the World Cup after playoff defeat, are now tasked with rebuilding a squad that has missed consecutive tournaments for the first time in decades. Baldini's brief was to steady the ship through two friendlies—Italy beat Luxembourg 1-0 on Wednesday with a goal from Inter talent Francesco Pio Esposito—before stepping aside to allow a new President of the Italian Federation, due to take office on June 22, to shape the long-term vision.

The absence of Italy from the World Cup has prompted reflection across European football. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, preparing for his first World Cup, acknowledged that the tournament "is not the same" without Italy, urging the federation to follow France's model by working on youth development and foundational structures rather than chasing quick fixes. The comparison to France underscores the scale of Italy's challenge: the French recovered from their own 2010 World Cup crisis through systematic investment in academy football and long-term planning.