Italian National Team Plans, Then Cancels Its Andrea Pirlo Party

Andrea Pirlo is one of the greatest Italian soccer players of all time.

His résumé as a player is impeccable.

He won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues, and most crucially, the 2006 World Cup.

His evolution from a classic trequartista, attacking-style player into one of the defining deep-lying playmakers of his era spoke to both his talent and his tactical intelligence.

In every sense of the word, he is an Italian legend.

But not even Pirlo is immune from the humiliation vortex that has encircled Italian soccer over the last decade.

On Friday, it was https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2080683868693082562">reported that Pirlo was on the brink of being named manager of the Italian national team, signaling a new era for a country that failed to qualify for three straight World Cups.

On Monday, Pirlo's appointment was https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7472332/2026/07/27/andrea-pirlo-italy-head-coach-russian-betting/?unlocked_article_code=1.01A.sKo-.VqzTcK8NHnu2&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta&source=twitteruk">called off due, in part, to his ties to a Russian betting company.

That reversal also led to the resignation of Italy's new technical director and fellow Italian legend Paolo Maldini (and I mean new; Maldini was at the job for 16 days before leaving his post on Monday).

On Tuesday, Roberto Mancini was officially appointed for his second stint with the Azzurri, after his first ended in disgrace following the failure to qualify to the 2022 World Cup.

What the hell happened?