Luca Toni started every game of Italy’s 2006 World Cup win, from the opener against Ghana in Hanover to the final in Berlin, scoring twice against Ukraine in the quarter-finals along the way. Twenty years on, he has given a blunt assessment of a national team starting from nothing.

Speaking to Tuttosport , the former striker did not soften it. “It is year zero by necessity, unless we start digging, in the sense that it cannot get worse after three failures to qualify for a World Cup,” Toni said. “The only joy came from winning the European Championship in 2021, but otherwise only darkness. Not qualifying for the 2030 World Cup would be a tragedy. No other definition comes to mind.”

He argued the problem runs far deeper than whoever occupies the bench. “I would not want people now, for convenience, to start focusing only on the coach, or the federation president. The truth is that reforms at youth level are missing. The facilities are missing, full-time coaches are missing while there are part-timers who do it as a second job.”

Toni also questioned recruitment culture, noting Italian clubs still favour foreign signings even after the abolition of the Decreto Crescita tax break, and aimed a pointed criticism at one club in particular. “Juventus fielding ten foreigners out of ten in the outfield positions is a terrible signal.”

On Roberto Mancini’s return, he was supportive despite the manner of the 2023 exit. “Mancini is the last to have won with Italy. He parted badly with the federation over a communication problem that honestly was not nice, but I repeat, he is someone who knows how to win.”

He backed the switch to 4-3-3 “a thousand per cent”, while taking aim at Inter. “They play with a 3-5-2, a system I do not love. It is locked in, it cannot become anything else mid-game. I hope Chivu can change his mind sooner or later.”

Asked about Pio Esposito, to whom he is often compared, Toni was generous. “He uses his body and physique a lot like I did, but he needs to get stronger in front of goal. To be clear: at his age, I was not as good as him. He has learned from Lautaro and Thuram, two excellent teachers.”

He also named two players worth betting on. “Alphadjo Cisse of Milan, born in 2006, a blessed year for Italian football. And then Costantino Favasuli, class of 2004, with one doubt: at 22, can you still be considered young? Abroad they would say no.”