Italy: How Can the Azzurri Challenge Again?

Only one other nation has won more World Cups than Italy, and only two have appeared in more finals. But as the rest of the world has been captivated by football's most prestigious international tournament going on in North America this summer, Azzurri fans have been excluded again, possibly taking a quick glance at the results to see which team has taken Italy's place at the top table.

It is a painful reminder that Italy has not kicked a ball at a World Cup finals since losing to Uruguay in the last game of the group stage of the 2014 finals in Brazil. Three tournaments have now gone by without Azzurri representation. Ironically, in the meantime, Italy set the record for the longest unbeaten run in competitive men's football. But even with continental success, an absence on the global stage still hurts.