In an interview with Tuttosport, Toni stated that Italian football has hit rock bottom and Mancini can spark hope for rebuilding.

He also contributed to Italy's last FIFA World Cup victory. He was a key player for Marcello Lippi's national team from Hanover – on 12 June 2006, Italy faced Ghana in Hanover, beginning their FIFA World Cup campaign – through the coronation night in Berlin on 9 July, when they defeated France in the final.

His finest moment?

His two goals against Ukraine in the quarter-final. At that time we dominated the world, and now we are taking the first steps to rebuild.

Toni, is the current national team starting from scratch?

"Absolutely. We are starting from scratch, or to put it bluntly, it cannot get any worse, because we have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup three consecutive times. Rebuilding is essential; we cannot simply dwell on repeated failures or become accustomed to losing. The only joy came from winning the European Championship in 2021; besides that, everything has been dark. If we fail to qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, it will be a disaster. I cannot think of another word to describe it."

How do you explain the talent crisis Italian football is currently experiencing?

"I do not want people to simply focus blame on the national team coach, the FA president, or anyone else just to make it easier. The reality is that there is a lack of long-term reform at the youth development level. Infrastructure is inadequate, and there are not enough dedicated coaches; many coaches work only part-time, treating it as a side job. If we tried to require Serie A teams to have at least two or three Italian players under eighteen or nineteen years old from their own youth academies, I think it would be difficult. Of course, I know this would conflict with EU rules to a certain extent, but perhaps a solution can always be found. The real area where investment must be increased is youth academies. At every election, everyone talks about these things, but once the election is over, no one mentions them again. I hope things do not become mere formality once more. I support Gianfranco Zola, who recently joined the FA (Marago, the president, has entrusted him to coordinate the youth development project for Italian football clubs, editor's note)."

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