Capello Goes for Italy’s Backline: Attackers Shine, Defenders Need to Step Up
2 April 2026
Veteran coach Fabio Capello sharply criticized Italy's defense after their painful World Cup qualifier loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties, which eliminated the Azzurri from qualification for the tournament for the third consecutive time.
In a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello warned that the defensive line is not currently capable of performing at a high level, calling for a reassessment of the backline.
Italy's exit came after a dramatic shootout in which defensive errors proved decisive, underscoring the need for greater balance between attack and defense.
Capello also pointed to Alessandro Bastoni, saying there was a grave misstep in a moment that contributed to a red card against Bosnia. He added that Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal tends to favor forward play over solid defensive duties.
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Capello concluded that Italy's defense must rediscover discipline and positional sense if the team hopes to compete at the highest level again.
And for a lighter note on the same topic, here are two punchlines to close the analysis:
Punchline 1: If Italy's defense were a movie, it would be a tragicomedy—lots of drama, little protection.
Punchline 2: The backline is so porous that even the stadium pigeons brought their own cement shoes.
