Del Piero insists the country still produces genuine talent but must confront honestly what is not working before any meaningful recovery is possible.
The Juventus legend, widely regarded as one of the finest players Italy has ever produced, spoke to Tuttosport in a wide-ranging interview that addressed Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — a second such absence in eight years.
Del Piero was measured but clear about what he believes is needed.
"We have built incredible achievements in critical moments. Think about 2006 or 1982. We won a European Championship in 2021 in the middle of two missed World Cup qualifications. We have this characteristic — we unite greatly in moments of difficulty. We need to do it again."
He pushed back on the narrative that Italy no longer produces elite talent.
"Today in Italy we are full of talent. Perhaps more in other sports — I'm thinking of tennis, which deserves a big round of applause. As for football, I can say that a champion is born when he wants to be, you cannot plan it. And as for how we develop talent — well, I don't know, these are long discussions already had. I believe that to solve the problems of Italian football, the first thing to do is truly understand where we are: what works and what doesn't. With clarity and without being too negative."
On 2006, he drew a direct parallel with what is required now — not technical perfection, but collective conviction.
"Internally it was like that too. We faced difficulties, but we made the qualifying path seem easy through quality on the pitch and on the bench, and through the way we worked — everyone made sacrifices to be at their best for the national team. That sense of belonging, combined with that spirit of sacrifice, united with a very strong group, created that magic. We had a mature and ready technical staff, a manager who questioned himself. It is beautiful to think back on that journey."