Home / Sports / Maldini laments Italy's World Cup collapse
Maldini laments Italy's World Cup collapse
5 Apr
Summary
- Legend Paolo Maldini calls missing three World Cups a historic failure.
- Maldini cites a severe lack of desire, spirit, and pride in current players.
- The Azzurri have now missed qualification for the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups.
Paolo Maldini, an icon of Italian football and AC Milan, has voiced significant concern over the Azzurri's prolonged absence from the World Cup finals. The legendary defender characterized the team's failure to qualify for three consecutive tournaments (2018, 2022, and the upcoming 2026 edition) as a historic collapse. He noted a distinct lack of the competitive spirit and dedication he associated with past Italian national teams.
Maldini highlighted that missing one World Cup serves as a warning, two indicate a crisis, but three consecutive misses represent a complete failure. He stressed that donning the Italian jersey signifies carrying immense history, responsibility, and pride. The legend contrasted his generation's focus on spirit, discipline, sacrifice, and respect for the shirt with the current team's perceived deficiency in pride, responsibility, and identity.
