Mertesacker’s comparison with the 2006 World Cup was especially pointed. Germany lost to Italy in the semi-final, facing a side packed with experience, personality and elite-level quality.
“How this team changed! Twenty years ago, when we lost to them in the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup, they were a world-class team,” Mertesacker said.
That contrast is difficult to ignore. Italy’s current struggles are not simply about one poor qualifying campaign; they speak to a longer failure to rebuild after an ageing generation moved on. The report says Mertesacker believes supporters now have to search hard to find a truly exceptional player in the national squad.
Kramer’s argument was severe, yet he also acknowledged the emotional pull of Italian football. He reportedly described himself as a major admirer of Italy, while pointing to the Euro 2020 triumph as a reminder that the country’s talent and football culture have not vanished.
That title remains an important counterpoint. Italy can still produce a cohesive, difficult-to-beat team, even when it lacks obvious global superstars. The problem is consistency: one memorable tournament cannot conceal repeated World Cup disappointment.
For younger supporters, the danger is bigger than missing one competition. If Italy remains absent from the global stage, a new generation may grow up without seeing the Azzurri as a regular force. The next international cycle will reveal whether this criticism becomes a catalyst for renewal-or another warning ignored.