The man who guided the Azzurri to global glory in 2006 believes eight teams from Europe and eight from South America should be guaranteed spots
Marcello Lippi has suggested that the likes of Italy should be guaranteed a World Cup spot once the finals are expanded.
The Azzurri will be a notable absentee when football’s global showpiece rolls into Russia next summer.
A stunning defeat in a play-off clash with Sweden has cost the four-time winners a shot at another crown, with the inquest well underway as to what went wrong.
Lippi believes the World Cup will be less of a spectacle with Italy and Netherlands forced to watch on from afar, with it proposed that FIFA should automatically qualify “traditional superpowers”.
"Italy and Netherlands failing to qualify for a World Cup is a low-probability event," Lippi, who guided Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, told PPTV.
"FIFA's current plan to expand the tournament to 48 teams is quite reasonable because it serves to reduce the likelihood of such low-probability events.
"I recommend eight European teams and eight South American teams are allowed to automatically qualify for the World Cup.
"A World Cup is not complete without such strong teams. We need to respect the fact that the World Cup has a history of hosting traditional superpowers.
"Argentina qualified for the World Cup in the last round. Just imagine a World Cup without [Lionel] Messi. Something doesn't seem right."
While Messi and Argentina did make it to Russia 2018, Lippi missed out with China, but he is convinced that they will be back among the elite at some stage in the future.
"I hope China make it to the World Cup in 2026 and I will be 82 years old by then,” he added.
“If China could only qualify for the World Cup in 2030, I will still have a celebration, even on crutches."
U.S.A1842589
50
if they feel so obligated 2 be at the world cup; they should have fought for their place like everyone else💯
100% I agreed. It doesn’t make any sense to use super power for those Europe and South America teams to be automatically qualified . If they defeated by others team that means they done. It’s also makes interesting game to see a new team with new players. The super power comments shows selfishness. I like Italy and Netherland teams but if they lost , they will learn a lesson from there mistake and make them strong for next season.
Original_Davido
42
if they feel so obligated 2 be at the world cup; they should have fought for their place like everyone else💯
lakbinpt
36
With his logic why not give Italy the World Cup before being played. Italy is not developing players. Napoli played 11 foreign players yesterday against Juventus. Italy was not good enough, period.
Savannah
34
I only feel bad because of Buffon tbh, damn
Realplayere
19
A World Cup without Italy, is like driving without a car
JuveBnW
17
he's right Italy has done more for football than any other countries, Australia, Iceland, Nigeria etc these are not footballing nations they have done fxxk all for the game. Australia for so many years tried to keep the game low they call it wog ball even worse they call it soccer lmao they don't even know what it's called there players are not Australian either. he is right let the shit kickers go thru qualifying, Italy,Brazil, Holland,France ,Germany,Spain etc automatically should be in it. it will happen this is a farce teams like Panama, Australia,Korea, Canada there a joke this will go down as one of the most boreing WCs in history.