Toni: Italy at 'year zero' as he backs Mancini

Luca Toni didn't hold back, slamming Juventus and Inter while backing Roberto Mancini to fix Italy's national team.

Who

Luca Toni

Role

Former Italy striker

Key claim

Italy at 'year zero'

Criticism

Juventus fielding 10 foreigners

Backing

Roberto Mancini

What happened. Luca Toni gave a blunt assessment of Italy's national team, calling it 'year zero' and criticising the lack of youth reforms and facilities. He also backed Roberto Mancini's return and the switch to 4-3-3.

Toni criticised Juventus for fielding ten foreigners in outfield positions.
He said not qualifying for the 2030 World Cup would be a tragedy.
Toni supported Mancini despite his 2023 exit over a communication problem.

“It is year zero by necessity, unless we start digging, in the sense that it cannot get worse after three failures to qualify for a World Cup.”
— Luca Toni

Toni's comments add pressure on Italian football to reform youth development and recruitment ahead of future tournaments.

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