Cristian Vieri has never been one to mince words, and his latest assessment of the 2026 World Cup landscape is about as blunt as a stray elbow in a cr...
Cristian Vieri has never been one to mince words, and his latest assessment of the 2026 World Cup landscape is about as blunt as a stray elbow in a crowded box. Speaking exclusively to GoalZaza, the former Italy marksman argued that France currently possess the most complete squad in the tournament, and that when you run a line through Luciano Spalletti's Azzurri, only two players would force their way into Didier Deschamps' starting eleven.Let that sink in for a moment. This is not some knee jerk reaction to a friendly defeat. This is Vieri, a man who wore the blue shirt with pride and knows a thing or two about clinical finishing, suggesting that the gap between Les Bleus and the rest of Europe is widening. He points to France's terrifying depth: three world class goalkeepers, a defence built on granite, a midfield that can suffocate or surge, and an attacking line that could give any back four nightmares. It is a squad that has tactical flexibility baked into its very DNA.So who are the two Italians Vieri believes could start Without putting words in the big man's mouth, the logic points toward a player of Nicolò Barella's relentless energy and a defender like Alessandro Bastoni, whose composure on the ball is rare. But is that really enough When you look at France's likely front three, or the midfield engine room of Tchouaméni and Camavinga, you have to ask yourself: would even Gianluigi Donnarumma get the nod over Mike Maignan The honest answer, based on current form, is probably not.This is a sobering reality check for Italian football. For years, we have prided ourselves on tactical nous, on the ability to park the bus with elegance or hit opponents on the break with surgical precision. But Vieri's point cuts deeper. France have bottled it in the past Sure, who has not. But this current crop is different. They have the physicality, the technical security, and the sheer numbers to rotate an entire eleven and still look favourites. The days of Italy automatically producing the best defenders and most cunning playmakers may be behind us, at least for this cycle.What Vieri is really saying is that the old hierarchy is shifting. France are not just favourites; they are the benchmark. And for Italy, the task is not just to catch up, but to fundamentally rethink how they develop players capable of performing on the highest stage. Until then, the Azzurri might have to settle for being a very good side looking up at a truly great one.
