{"id":291587,"date":"2025-11-18T19:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T19:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/291587\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T19:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T19:08:12","slug":"legendary-italy-star-rivera-lashes-out-at-tragic-bastoni-errors-in-4-1-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/291587\/","title":{"rendered":"Legendary Italy star Rivera lashes out at ‘tragic’ Bastoni errors in 4-1 defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BERGAMO,<\/p>\n

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Gianni Rivera lashed out at the Nazionale after their 4-1 defeat to Norway<\/a>. \u2018It was humiliating and strange. Alessandro Bastoni is considered exceptional at Inter, but makes tragic errors for Italy.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Azzurri legend scored 14 goals in 60 senior caps for his country, winning the Ballon d\u2019Or in 1969 and part of the squad that lifted the 1968 European Championship trophy, as well as reaching the 1970 World Cup Final.<\/p>\n

It is safe to say that he is unimpressed with the current crop of players, who were beaten 4-1 at home by Norway and risk missing out on their third consecutive World Cup.<\/p>\n

Rivera outlines many Italy problems\"FLORENCE,FLORENCE, ITALY \u2013 JUNE 03: Gianni Rivera and head coach of Italy Luciano Spalletti after a press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 03, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cI was surprised to see such a huge difference, in the second half it was like watching Brazil play against nobody,\u201d Rivera told La Repubblica newspaper via Tuttomercatoweb.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our fault, because Norway might be a good team, but they are certainly not Brazil. It was humiliating and strange. We were totally at sea, this cannot be the Italy squad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the Nazionale won the EURO 2020 trophy, the fact remains they failed to reach the 2018 or 2022 editions of the World Cup, and made little impact at EURO 2024 either.<\/p>\n

\"MILAN,MILAN, ITALY \u2013 NOVEMBER 16: Gianluca Mancini of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have champions anymore, but there are many problems for this Nazionale, not just those who step onto the field,\u201d added Rivera.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have many issues that have still not been faced by the Federation, so it\u2019s too easy to put all the blame on the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust look at Bastoni, who Inter consider to be an exceptional defender, but makes tragic errors for Italy. Evidently, he doesn\u2019t have the same confidence playing for the Azzurri.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BERGAMO,BERGAMO \u2013 SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Luciano Spalletti was sacked after the 3-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo, then Gennaro Gattuso won his first five games in charge, but is he the right man to lead them to the World Cup?<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Rino well enough as a coach to say. I did read that other coaches had been contacted before him, and turned down the job, so if that\u2019s true then that needs to be considered,\u201d added Rivera.<\/p>\n

\u201cWatching Sunday\u2019s game, it really doesn\u2019t look as if Gattuso managed to get into the players\u2019 heads, but this negative trend has been going for 15 years now, so it\u2019s not all him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel that the power of agents really damaged the whole football system, as now families pay agents to get their kids to have time on the field. If they aren\u2019t rich, talented players can fall through the cracks and have no real chance of emerging.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to tell the FIGC President Gabriele Gravina that I was ready to provide advice, but he never called me. He doesn\u2019t think someone like me can be of use to the Italian football movement.\u201d<\/p>\n


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