Thursday marks exactly two decades since Italy last conquered the world. On 9 July 2006, Marcello Lippi’s Azzurri lifted the World Cup trophy at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, a triumph that remains their most recent knockout success at a global tournament. As the 20th anniversary arrives, analysis suggests the current generation faces an almost impossible task matching the quality of those legendary champions.
The golden standard
Lippi’s 2006 squad set a formidable benchmark. The starting eleven for the final featured Gianluigi Buffon in goal, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta at full-back, and a commanding centre-back partnership of Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi. Andrea Pirlo orchestrated play from deep midfield, supported by Gennaro Gattuso, Mauro Camoranesi and Simone Perrotta, with Francesco Totti operating behind striker Luca Toni.
The substitutes’ bench illustrated the squad’s extraordinary depth. Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Nesta—world-class talents in their own right—watched from the sidelines, unable to force their way into Lippi’s preferred line-up.
The modern comparison
Contrast this wealth of talent with the team that faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in March’s World Cup play-off final. The current line-up features Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, with Alessandro Bastoni, Gianluca Mancini and Riccardo Calafiori forming a defensive trio. Nicolò Barella and Sandro Tonali anchor the midfield, whilst Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui lead the attack.
Position for position, none of the 2026 cohort would displace their 2006 counterparts in the starting eleven. Donnarumma cannot usurp Buffon between the posts. Tonali’s energetic displays fall short of Pirlo’s tactical mastery, whilst Calafiori lacks Cannavaro’s defensive authority.
Squad depth dilemmas
The more realistic debate concerns the extended 23-man squad rather than the first eleven. Might Donnarumma have offered stronger competition to third-choice goalkeeper Marco Amelia? Could Tonali have edged out squad midfielder Simone Barone? Even these comparisons prove challenging, highlighting the exceptional quality throughout Lippi’s entire roster.
Italy currently navigates uncertain waters under interim head coach Silvio Baldini, who assumed control following the Bosnia defeat. Recent June international friendlies featured predominantly Under-21 players as the federation attempts to rebuild momentum. Two decades after that Berlin triumph, the Azzurri continue searching for the knockout success that has eluded them since Cannavaro lifted the trophy.