Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete has called for serious analysis of what he says is a ``structural crisis'' that led to the defending champion's dismal first-round elimination from the World Cup.
Italy's 3-2 loss to Slovakia on Thursday marked the first time the Azzurri exited the World Cup without winning a game, and the 2006 champion hasn't won at all in 2010.
``We all know the importance of football in our country and we've disappointed tens of millions of fans,'' Abete said Friday. ``We have to be realists. These are the facts. We need to reflect on the structural crisis of Italian football.''
Abete said he would introduce new coach Cesare Prandelli on July 1, and confirmed that the former Fiorentina manager would lead the team through the 2014 World Cup.
``We've got to develop a strategy to start over. This problem didn't begin yesterday,'' Abete added. ``It's been going on for a while. We have the duty to start over.''
Nine players on Italy's squad were 30 or over, led by 36-year-old captain Fabio Cannavaro, and Prandelli will be charged with a major overhaul.
``Prandelli was chosen for his skills at working with younger players,'' Abete said. ``And it is noteworthy that we're signing him to a four-year deal. We're looking ahead long term.''
Abete lamented the large number of foreign players in Italy's Serie A, referring to how Inter Milan won this year's Champions League without a single Italian player in its starting lineup.
``These problems don't involve just Italian football, it's a Europe-wide problem,'' Abete said. ``We don't have enough players with international experience.''
Abete said he would put a priority on developing younger players and improving relationships with the country's clubs, coaches and youth programs.
``The European Union and UEFA have also got to realize what the problem is, because if we can't develop this sport better, the risks won't affect just one or two federations but all the European teams,'' he said. ``We've already seen how much the European powers have struggled at this World Cup and how well the South Americans are doing.''
Italy's retiring captain Fabio Cannavaro linked the problems on the pitch to the violence in the stands that often mars games in Italy's dilapidated stadiums.
``Something has to change. Just look at our stadiums and the way people behave at games,'' Cannavaro said. ``We've got to invest in younger players and learn from this loss, otherwise it's going to take another 27 years before we win the World Cup again - and that's not possible for a country that loves football as much as Italy does.''
Perhaps the most talented young player in Italy is 19-year-old Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli, who often struggles with his temper and was left off the World Cup squad.
Prandelli will likely call up Balotelli as well as another talented but temperamental forward - Sampdoria playmaker Antonio Cassano.
``Prandelli is very good but Italy doesn't have much material to offer,'' Cannavaro said. ``He's going to have to rebuild with all young players like Spain did. I played two European Championships with Cassano and we didn't win them. I don't see anybody like (Francesco) Totti or (Alessandro) Del Piero hanging around.''
Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso are retiring from the national team and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will take over the captaincy.
At 33, defender Gianluca Zambrotta has said he wants to continue playing for Italy, but Prandelli may choose to bring back Fabio Grosso and develop 19-year-old right back Davide Santon.
At 25, Giorgio Chiellini becomes the reference point in central defense, but he needs a new partner without Cannavaro.
Playmaker Andrea Pirlo is 31 and can still contribute - when healthy - and Riccardo Montolivo, who replaced Pirlo in all three games here, is sure to maintain his spot, having played under Prandelli with Fiorentina.
Daniele De Rossi also remains in midfield, while Mauro Camoranesi could be phased out.
The biggest problems are in attack.
Alberto Gilardino started at center forward in the opening two games but didn't create a single scoring chance. Still, Prandelli will likely try to get the 27-year-old striker back in form, having coached him successfully at both Parma and Fiorentina.
Also 27, Fabio Quagliarella only played the second half against Slovakia but produced more in those 45 minutes than any other forward did over three games, scoring once and having another potential goal waved off for the slightest of offside calls.
After the elimination, Quagliarella was the most distraught of all, and had to be escorted off the pitch in tears.
``We tried to a console the younger players,'' Gattuso said. ``I told some of them, 'We're leaving and the Azzurri jersey is yours now: always treat it with pride.'''
