Italy appoints Andrea Pirlo as coach amid national team decline

Italy missed a third consecutive World Cup qualification, prompting a crisis within the national team. The Italian Football Federation approached Pep Guardiola, who declined a €20 million‑a‑year salary offer, leading the federation to turn to former Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, currently coaching United FC in Dubai, despite his limited managerial experience. Internal disputes surfaced between federation president Giovanni Malagò and former player Paolo Maldini over the choice of coach.

Former Democratic Party leader Walter Veltroni criticised Argentina’s conduct after the World Cup final in East Rutherford, asking “What message does it leave?” He warned that turning football into a politically‑driven spectacle risks eroding the sport’s poetic and emotional core, noting Spain’s victory as a reminder of football’s cultural value.