The Azzurri should have qualified for the World Cup “by right,” according to Italy player Nicolo Barella, after winning the European Championship.
Italy was eliminated after a shocking 1-0 loss to North Macedonia in a play-off qualification match in March. Despite being nearly completely dominant, Italy let up the game’s lone goal in stoppage time.
It resulted in Italy, the four-time champions, missing out on two straight World Cups—a first in their history—and Inter star Barella has felt reluctant to watch the competition because of his grievance that he should be taking part.
In fact, he advocated for giving World Cup spots automatically to the most recent champions of Europe and South America. Unless they were also included in such an agreement, confederations from other continents would probably not be too happy about such a move.
Italy, who prevailed in the postponed Euro 2020 finals last year, is still in disbelief at its World Cup qualifying misstep.
“I haven’t seen half a match of the World Cup yet, I can’t understand the feeling I feel,” Barella said.
“They say that the pitch is always right, but for me in this case it gave an unfair response. Today it was our turn, maybe tomorrow it will be the turn of others: whoever wins a European Championship or a Copa America deserves to go to a World Cup by right.”
The statement made by Barella is comparable to one made last month by Italy’s head coach, Roberto Mancini. Mancini added that every continent’s champions need to have an automatic berth in the World Cup.
🔵 The @azzurri had been eliminated from Korea/Japan 2002 by Korea Republic & fallen at the group stage of EURO 2004
🇮🇹 Italy needed a mastermind. They found one who made them the heaviest outsiders to ever win a #WorldCup
👏 All hail @MisterLippi pic.twitter.com/zqTMJUdU2f
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 9, 2020
Barella can see himself staying at Inter through the 2026 competition, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Barella, who has a contract with Inter that expires in 2026, has been linked to a number of teams, including Chelsea and Liverpool from the Premier League.
“We have to get there first,” he said of the next World Cup, “but yeah, I see myself on the pitch in 2026 still as an Inter player.”
Whether Milan Skriniar remains at Inter for so long must be in major doubt.
Paris Saint-Germain wanted him in the last transfer window and may come back in January, and the 27-year-old Slovakian centre-back is due to lapse out of contract at the end of the season.
Barella will let Skriniar make his own decisions about the future, insisting others should not play any part.
“I will never allow myself to give him advice,” Barella said. “Everyone makes their choices. Then, at the end of his career, we will see if they were right or wrong. I hope he stays because in addition to being incredibly strong, he is a brother.”