Alessandro Nesta Says Italy Have Lost Their Identity

Alessandro Nesta, former World Cup winner, said the Azzurri have lost their identity while speaking in New York. He met fans alongside fellow Calcio legend Christian Vieri during the event. Nesta, now head coach of AC Monza, reflected on the club’s challenges in the Serie A campaign. He noted Italy have missed World Cup qualification for a third straight cycle. Nesta argued that copying foreign styles and a lack of protective laws for youth prospects have eroded the Italian football identity. He cited the recent FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play‑offs match where Haris Tabakovic scored Bosnia’s equaliser against Italy in Zenica. He added that even at ages twelve to thirteen players focus on systems rather than creativity, producing “battery chickens” good at passing but lacking flair. The former defender observed that Serie A’s popularity has slipped as the Premier League now dominates European attention. He linked the national team’s struggles to top talent moving abroad and to stagnant stadium and infrastructure development in Italy. Nesta concluded that without reforms, Italy will continue to trail behind leagues that have modernised their facilities.