Mertesacker critiques Italy’s World Cup absence amid ongoing decline

Per Mertesacker expressed a strong opinion on Italy’s absence from the 2026 World Cup, stating they no longer deserve discussion at such a level. Speaking alongside Christoph Kramer, Mertesacker reflected on the team's fall from its past glories, emphasizing the need for improvement in player quality. They noted the Azzurri's third consecutive failure to qualify for the tournament, contrasting their current state with a period of success that included their win at Euro 2020. Discussions highlighted a perceived lack of world-class players in the current Italian squad, which has changed significantly over the past two decades.

• 2:25 PMYahoo Sports — Mertesacker on Italy’s World Cup absence: ”They don’t deserve to be talked about’