A new work week begins as fans of Italian football are still recovering from the national team’s performance in the match against Norway. After taking an early lead, it seemed Italy had the game under control, but the subsequent collapse revealed that the team remains far from its ideal form.
Although the Italians knew that winning by nine goals was unrealistic, it was still expected that they would deliver at least a convincing performance. Instead, after the opening goal, they lost concentration and allowed the opponent to take control. The result clearly shows that the current level of the national team does not match the ambitions of the fans or the tradition of Italian football.
In March, the team faces a playoff for a place in the World Cup. Everyone hopes that the scenario from previous years will not repeat itself, when Italy failed and missed two consecutive world championships. Another failure would mean a third absence in a row, which would represent an unprecedented setback.
Although the performance against Norway brought disappointment, the Norwegian team deserves recognition for its disciplined and confident approach. It demonstrated that success is possible even without a star name through teamwork and tactical maturity.
Italian football now stands at a crossroads. If it wants to return among the elite, it must find the right balance between experience and youthful energy. Fans hope that in the coming months they will finally see performances that reflect the history, pride, and quality associated with the Azzurri.
