Why is Italian football failing?

In 1977, Marco Tardelli won the UEFA World Cup with Juventus and went on to play for Italy’s national team. Speaking to La Stampa from a coach’s perspective, he analyses what the team needs today:

“For years we have been hearing about necessary reforms: nothing but empty words and propaganda. To begin with – while complying with EU rules – we need to find ways to reduce the proportion of foreign players in our leagues, to give Italian players more opportunities. We also need a reform of the youth sector from the grassroots up: we may be among the best internationally at youth level, but all this talent is going to waste. Because instead of being given a chance to play, they are being stifled by the obsession with achieving results at any cost, by the career ambitions of coaches and managers, even in youth programmes.”