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October 16, 2025 - 19:39
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July 9, 2025 - 17:25
ROME – The night Italy suffered another heavy blow, this time from Norway, brought with it the contrast between the euphoria of Jannik Sinner's triumph and yet another defeat for the national team. Andrea Abodi, Minister of Sport and Youth, attempted to reconcile the two worlds, speaking of "different feelings," but without sparing a bitter analysis of the fragilities of Italian football.
Speaking to 'Radio Anch'io Sport', Abodi described the Azzurri's first half in Milan as "more than respectable," noting that World Cup qualification remains possible and must be fueled with confidence and clarity. But the disappointment, amplified by a 4-1 home defeat and the expectations of a country still singing "Un amore così grande," left a deep mark. "When you lose like this," he said, "it's clear you feel betrayed."
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The minister confirmed his intention to organize a training camp in February, confident that an agreement will be reached: "It's in our mutual interest to bring Italy to the World Cup, but we're often the first to put a spoke in our own wheels." Hence the broader perspective, looking at a system that, according to Abodi, has made poor decisions over the last twenty years.
"In football," he stated, "talent has been sacrificed. Other disciplines demonstrate that Italy still produces excellent players, while our most popular sport struggles to develop young players. In Serie A, too little space is given to Italians, while elsewhere twenty-year-olds like Nusa and Bobb are emerging, and their relationship with the ball is something we are struggling to rebuild." A structural problem, which the minister believes requires a rethinking of the technical model, as well as the ability to protect the present without sacrificing planning for the future.
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