Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 21:05 / Updated on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 21:06
Fabio Capello was very concerned about the serious crisis Italian football is going through, after the Squadra Azzurra missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the third time in a row. “I couldn't sleep all night, I still can't believe what happened,” confessed the former selector.
The legendary Fabio Capello did not refrain from qualifying the absence of the Italian national team from the next World Cup as a “disgrace” and a “sporting tragedy”. In a dialogue with MARCA journalists, the former technician, now 79 years old, was very affected by the failure in Zenica, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the WC play-off. 2026.
“I couldn't sleep all night, I still can't believe what happened,” confessed the former selector, acknowledging the deep emotional impact caused by this new elimination.
Capello: “The first to take responsibility is the president of the federation, with the entire management team”
Capello believes that the failure of the Squadra Azzurra has an unacceptable dimension. “We are talking about a national team that has won the world title four times. This is a sporting tragedy, a shame. It is one of the worst things that has happened to Italian football in its recent history.”
Gennaro Gattuso, with Gianluigi Buffon, head of the Italian delegation, and Gabriele Gravina, FIGC president. All of them could leave their positions after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup / Photo: Imago
The current TV analyst and Gazzetta dello Sport columnist also blamed the management, calling for urgent changes in the structure of Italian football. “Nobody is resigning here, and that's the most worrying thing. The first person who should take responsibility is the president of the federation, together with the entire management team.”
Fabio Capello believes that, beyond the poor results, the problem is of a structural nature. “Specialists must be brought in, analyze what is happening and start a reconstruction from scratch. It will be very difficult to recover, but I trust that it will serve to start a real renewal. Italy must reinvent itself.”
The great Italian specialist ended the discussion with MARCA by reflecting on the general feeling in the country, where football is experienced intensely. “Italy is in mourning. For a country so passionate about football, to be out of the competition for the third time in a row is extremely difficult to accept.”
