Italy
Four stars, and a reckoning.
- FIFA ranking
- 12th
- First international
- 1910
- Home
- Various, most often the Stadio Olimpico, Rome
- Head coach
- Silvio Baldini (caretaker)
- Nickname
- Azzurri
About Italy
Italy are one of the giants of the game, four-time world champions and two-time European champions, defined by tactical intelligence and defensive mastery, from catenaccio to the organised pragmatism that beat France in Berlin in 2006. Run by the FIGC, the Azzurri built their legend on great goalkeepers and defenders, from Dino Zoff to Fabio Cannavaro to Gianluigi Buffon, the record cap-holder on 176. Gigi Riva remains the all-time top scorer with 35 goals.
The recent story runs to extremes. Italy won Euro 2020, beating England on penalties at Wembley, then failed to reach three straight World Cups: 2018, 2022 and 2026, the last after a penalty-shootout playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2026 that cost Gennaro Gattuso his job. The federation has spent 2026 rebuilding, with a caretaker in charge and a permanent manager still being settled.
Honours
- 4FIFA World Cup1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
- 2UEFA European Championship1968 and 2020
- 1Olympic gold1936
Recent form
An unprecedented crisis: a third straight World Cup missed, out in a March 2026 playoff, and a caretaker in charge while the FIGC settles on a permanent coach. The spine of Donnarumma, Bastoni and Barella remains, but the search for a settled centre-forward and a new era goes on.
Records
First-choice XI
4-3-3A recent-era XI from the Euro 2024 side; the squad is mid-rebuild.
Italy on Touchline
All gamesNo Italy matches are modelled right now. When a big one lands, it appears here with the full brief, the model you can run yourself, and live odds.
How it worksFrequently asked
Sources
Reference facts (honours, records, venue) are sourced above. Squad and manager details reflect the season this page covers and can change.
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