Italy Eyes Maldini as Conte Awaits World Cup Opportunity
Italian football stands at one of those crossroads that define an era. On one side, the urgent need for a figurehead to rebuild identity and structure. On the other, a coach with the stature – and the contract offer – to carry the Azzurri all the way to the next World Cup. At the centre of it all: Paolo Maldini and Antonio Conte.
Maldini, the captain-in-waiting
Italy want a captain. Not on the pitch this time, but in the corridors where ideas, youth development and technical strategy are shaped. The push is on to bring Paolo Maldini back into the heart of the national game.
The former Milan defender, already tested as a director at club level, is being lined up for a role that would give him full control over both the technical sector and the youth structure. That is no ceremonial title. It means vision, power and responsibility over how Italy play, how they grow, and how they produce the next generation.
After years of tactical drift and missed tournaments, the move feels like a clear attempt to restore a recognisable Italian line, starting from the base. Maldini’s name carries weight in every dressing room and every boardroom. The federation know it.
Conte, four years to reach the World Cup
Alongside the Maldini push, there is another decisive front: the bench. Antonio Conte has a four-year proposal on the table, a contract designed to take him through the full cycle up to the World Cup.
The message is obvious. No short-term patchwork, no caretaker thinking. Italy want a coach who builds, imposes standards and lives every training session at full volume. Conte fits that description perfectly.
A four-year deal would give him the freedom to reshape the squad, demand specific profiles and hammer home his methods without looking over his shoulder every international break. For a national team still nursing regrets from recent failures, it is a bold attempt to reset the clock.
Vinicius lights up Brazil, Ancelotti cruises
While Italy weigh up their future, Brazil are already enjoying the present. Under Carlo Ancelotti, they overwhelmed Scotland and claimed first place in their group, driven by the irresistible Vinicius.
Carletto’s star struck twice, a brace that underlined the gulf in class and settled the contest. Matheus Cunha added the third, closing out a performance that felt more like a statement than a simple group match.
Then, another flash of glamour: Neymar came on. His appearance added a layer of spectacle to a night that already belonged to Brazil’s attack. With Ancelotti on the bench and Vinicius in this form, the Seleção look organised, ruthless and relaxed all at once.
Morocco win, but must settle for second
Elsewhere, Morocco did their job but not quite enough to finish top. They beat Haiti, a result that keeps them alive and competitive, yet they still had to accept second place in the group.
It is the kind of outcome that leaves a mixed taste: victory in the match, but a tougher path ahead.
Switzerland, by contrast, moved in the opposite mood. They edged ahead of Canada and took first place, leaving the North Americans to qualify with four points and a sense of having left something out there.
Klopp’s verdict: too many games, but what a show
From the sidelines of this congested international calendar, Jürgen Klopp added his own sharp view. The German coach pointed to the sheer volume of matches, a schedule that stretches players and staff to the limit.
Yet he did not deny the spectacle. Despite the overload, he highlighted how the tournament has produced entertainment and surprises, singling out Norway and Japan as the standout revelations so far.
Two teams outside the traditional elite, forcing their way into the conversation. Exactly the kind of storyline that keeps a competition alive.
Italy and the weight of regret
Watching all this from afar, Italy can only count the what-ifs. With Switzerland topping their group and Canada still advancing with four points, the sense of missed opportunity grows heavier.
The Azzurri are not on the pitch, but they are very much in the story – as the absent giants, the team that should have been there, measuring themselves against Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Japan and the rest.
That is why the Maldini move matters. That is why the Conte offer carries so much significance. Italy are not just choosing names; they are choosing a direction. The question now is simple and unforgiving: will they finally commit to it, or watch another World Cup from the outside looking in?
