Italy have won four World Cups. They haven't played a World Cup game since 2014.
In between they were the best team in Europe: 37 games unbeaten from 2018 to 2021, and Euro 2020 won in London, on penalties against England.
But World Cup qualifying became a nightmare:
2017, out against Sweden. 2022, out against North Macedonia. 2026, out against Bosnia and Herzegovina, on penalties.
Four playoff games. One goal scored.
A 37-game run takes three years. A playoff takes one night.
