Materazzi: ‘Would Italy have struggled any less against Cape Verde than Argentina?’
Marco Materazzi says that it is still painful to discuss the decline of the Italy national team on the international stage over the last 20 years, but argues that if the Azzurri had qualified for the 2026 World Cup, they would have still found it difficult against the likes of Cape Verde, who took reigning champions Argentina to extra-time in the round of 32.
Materazzi on Italy’s downfall and potential struggles at 2026 World Cup
It has been a long summer for Italy supporters, who have had to watch a third consecutive World Cup with no Azzurri involvement. Despite the fact that the tournament has been expanded to 48 teams in 2026, which brought an additional three European qualification spots, Italy were still unable to qualify.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy shows his dejection after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
There have been some complaints that the newly-formatted World Cup benefits sides from South America, Africa and Asia more than it does nations from Europe in terms of the number of qualification spots up for grabs.
However, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi hushed those complaints and argues that Italy still would have found it difficult against the likes of Cape Verde at this tournament.
“I don’t want to get into political speeches, I’ll try to make a football one and I will turn that question around: How much did Argentina struggle against Cape Verde? And if Italy had been there instead of Argentina, do you think they would have struggled any less?,” Materazzi pondered.
“And why was it so difficult against Cape Verde? Because they came onto the pitch not just trying to defend, but to try and win by playing a real game with clear footballing ideas and quality. They played to upset like us in 2006, and Germany came to realise that.”
And as for Italy’s downfall since winning the World Cup in 2006, Materazzi says: “We’ve spent that time doing too little more than anything else. Football didn’t stop in July 2006: We should have run further ahead but instead, we fell behind, and not just because of the players and coaches.
“It’s a long explanation, and these days it makes me sad to face up to it.”
