the last time italy did not qualify for the world cup was 2006.
when was the last time italy did not qualify for the world cup?
2006
on 14 may 2018, it was announced that he signed as manager of the italy national team after taking over from caretaker manager, luigi di biagio. mancini was appointed manager six months after italy failed to qualify for the 2018 fifa world cup under gian piero ventura, after a play-off defeat to sweden in november 2017—the first time italy had failed to qualify for the tournament since the 1958 fifa world cup. mancini's contract is incentive-based as his contract runs until 2020, however, he would be given an automatic extension if italy qualify for uefa euro 2020. on 28 may 2018, italy won their first match under mancini, a 2–1 victory in a friendly over saudi arabia.
roberto mancini
at the 2010 world cup in south africa, reigning champions italy were unexpectedly eliminated in the first round, finishing last place in their group. after being held to 1–1 draws by paraguay and new zealand, they suffered a 3–2 loss to slovakia. it was the first time italy failed to win a single game at a world cup finals tournament, and in doing so became the third nation to be eliminated in the first round while holding the world cup crown; the first being brazil in 1966 and the second france in 2002. coincidentally, france who had been italy's adversaries and the losing finalist in the 2006 world cup, were also eliminated without winning a game in the first round in south africa, making it the first time ever that neither finalist of the previous edition were able to reach the second round.
italy national football team