Absent for the third consecutive World Cup, the Italian team continues to leave a deep void among its fans.
According to a survey released this Thursday (11) by the SWG institute, the majority of Italians experience the tournament with a mixture of frustration, nostalgia and a certain distance, even though many intend to follow the competition.
According to the survey, carried out online from June 3 to 5 with 800 respondents, 75% of Italians declared they felt “sad and nostalgic” due to the absence of the Azzurri, the name by which the Italian team is known, eliminated in the European playoff final by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The third consecutive absence of the four-time world champion in the main competition confirms a sporting crisis that still affects the country.
Despite the discouragement, football continues to exert its power of attraction: 59% of those interviewed stated that they will follow the World Cup, the current edition of which is being played in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
On the other hand, 19% declared that they will not watch the tournament without Italy, showing a significant detachment from part of the fans.
Italians will support Ancelotti
Without their national team, many Italians are looking for new reasons to get involved with the competition.
In this scenario, Brazil and Spain emerge as the favorites: 17% of those interviewed intend to support the Brazilian team, driven above all by the presence of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti at the head of the team. Right behind, Spain appears with 16% of preferences.
Other selections also arouse interest, albeit on a smaller scale. Argentina has 10% of the fans, while France and England each have 5%.
A significant piece of data reveals, however, the difficulty of identifying with the tournament: 35% of Italians who will watch the World Cup said they do not have any favorite team.
The feeling of disorientation is not restricted to the general population. It is also shared by public figures and authorities in the country. Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi summed up the mood on public radio Rai Radio 1.
“From a sporting point of view, it’s incredibly disappointing. We’re a little disoriented.” Still, he revealed his preferences: “I’m going to support Ancelotti’s Brazil, but also for Cannavaro and Montella, coaches from Uzbekistan and Turkey.”
The emotional connection with Italian coaches and players working abroad has become a relevant factor in choosing new favorites.
Actress Cristiana Capotondi, former head of delegation for the Italian women’s team, also highlighted this relationship to the newspaper La Repubblica: “I support Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil, which represents a part of Italy that participates in the competition.”
This identification, however, does not eliminate the feeling of loss. Capotondi admits that Italy’s absence compromises interest in the tournament: “After this, I will try to watch as little of this World Cup as possible, because it is incredibly sad that Italy will not be there.”
Future of Italy
Other sectors of society share the same perception.
Astrophysicist Amedeo Balbi, speaking to La Repubblica, acknowledged a more distant connection with the event: “I admit that, when Italy is not playing, I don’t follow the competition very closely.”
Still, he mentions a liking for teams with players from his favorite club, Roma, in addition to Ancelotti’s Brazil.
The absence of Italy, one of the most successful teams in football history, continues to raise questions about the future of the sport in the country.
While the Italian Federation tries to rebuild the team’s competitiveness, fans live an ambivalent relationship with the World Cup, divided between the habit of following football and the void left by the national team.
In this edition of the tournament, Italian fans seem to find solace above all in indirect links, whether through compatriot coaches or cultural ties with other teams.
But, as the numbers and testimonials indicate, nothing replaces the Azzurri’s presence on the field.
