Gattuso Reflects on Italy's World Cup Failure: A Wound That Will Remain
Gennaro Gattuso walked out of the Renato Dall’Ara with three points and a clean sheet, but his mind did not stay in Bologna for long.
Minutes after Lazio’s 1-0 win over Bologna in their Serie A opener, the conversation turned back to the job that slipped away and the World Cup that never will be. The former Italy coach did not dodge it. He leaned straight into the pain.
“I had 10 wonderful months,” Gattuso said, reflecting on his spell in charge of the Azzurri. “The lads I coached gave me their all. And it's a wound that will remain for as long as I live, because it was a deep wound.”
That wound, of course, is Italy’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup. The playoff defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in March – a result that sealed a third straight absence from the men’s World Cup – pushed Gattuso to resign in April. For a man who lifted the trophy as a player in 2006, the fall from that summit has left a permanent mark on his coaching career.
A New Old Face: Mancini Returns
The Italian Football Federation moved quickly after Gattuso’s exit. In July, they turned back to a familiar figure: Roberto Mancini.
Mancini’s first spell, from 2018 to 2023, delivered Euro 2020 glory and a wave of optimism, only to be darkened by the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Now he returns to a national team still bruised and under intense scrutiny.
Gattuso, though, refused to feed any debate about the appointment. He backed his successor without hesitation.
“I'd say he is a great coach with a wealth of experience,” he said. “He's a great manager; he's someone who has already won with the national team, and I obviously wish him all the best from the bottom of my heart.”
The message was clear: the past is painful, but the shirt matters more than any individual.
Pirlo, Ancelotti, Guardiola – And The Road Back To Mancini
Mancini’s comeback was not the federation’s first idea.
Andrea Pirlo initially emerged as the leading candidate to replace Gattuso after ambitious approaches for Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola were turned down. Pirlo, a former teammate of Gattuso and another 2006 world champion, seemed poised to take the reins.
Then the deal hit a wall. Complications tied to an existing sponsorship agreement with a betting company derailed the move, leaving the FIGC to reassess.
Behind the scenes, there was another powerful voice with a different preference. Lega Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli revealed that the league strongly pushed for Antonio Conte to return for a second spell in charge. Conte, whose intensity and tactical discipline still resonate with many, had his own backers.
The federation, though, circled back to Mancini – the man who already knows the job, the pressure, and the expectations that come with the crest.
Gattuso Turns To Lazio, Italy Turns To Nations League
Gattuso has not lingered. Since signing with Lazio in June, he has thrown himself into club work, his trademark energy now channelled into a different shade of blue. The win at Bologna was a solid start, a reminder that his coaching story continues even with that scar on his international record.
Italian football, though, cannot afford to stare in the rear-view mirror for long.
Simonelli has called for unity around Mancini as the Azzurri move into their next cycle. The demand is simple: stop arguing over the past and rally around the coach who must repair it.
The next test comes quickly. Italy face Belgium on September 25 in the UEFA Nations League, a competition that suddenly feels more than just a sideshow. For Mancini, it is the first real stage of his second act: a chance to restore pride, rebuild belief, and start dragging Italy back toward the summit of the international game.
Another failure would deepen the wound Gattuso spoke about. A strong response might finally start to close it.
