Gianluigi Donnarumma has been capped 79 times by Italy since his debut in 2016, while he was their best player during their successful Euro 2020 campaign which saw them upset England to become European champions. Rather remarkably, though, he has never played at a World Cup.
Italy are at serious risk of missing a third-straight finals for the first time in their history. Their current streak of two successive absences is already their worst run and there would be uproar back home if they fumble qualification again, especially after the team that pipped them to top spot in their group was Norway. “I am upset and disappointed,” was Donnarumma’s blunt assessment in November having finished second.
The Azzurri, now coached by Gennaro Gattuso, will host Northern Ireland in the first round of the UEFA play-offs, with Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina awaiting the winners. Surely Donnarumma and Italy won’t let this chance slip, right?..