Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta and Moise Kean of Fiorentina currently lead Italian scorers in Serie A, each with only eight goals this season. Italy national team coach Gennaro Gattuso has offered his perspective on the challenges faced by Italian forwards in the league.
Both Scamacca and Kean were included in the Azzurri squad for the recent World Cup play-off. The overall low goal output from Italian strikers in the domestic league has been a recurring concern throughout the 2025-26 season.
During a recent press conference at Coverciano, Gattuso addressed the issue, stating, “Abroad, teams don’t defend in the same manner we do. This is the crucial difference. The tactical approach and defensive methodologies here are distinct.”
Despite Italy’s four World Cup victories – a record surpassed only by Brazil (five) – the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the tournament since 2014. They haven’t participated in a World Cup knockout match since their triumph in 2006, a squad that boasted legendary strikers such as Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi, and Luca Toni.
The Azzurri secured a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal on March 26. However, they subsequently lost the final to Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking their third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Given their storied history and esteemed status, Italy were widely considered favorites to advance to the World Cup. This expectation mirrored previous campaigns in 2017 and 2022, when the Nazionale suffered play-off defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively.
Despite the struggles of Italian strikers in Serie A, the national team’s scoring record under coach Gattuso has been noteworthy, with the Azzurri netting 19 goals in just six matches under his tenure.
Mateo Retegui, who was Serie A’s top scorer in 2024-25 before moving to Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, stands as Gattuso’s leading Italian scorer with five goals in eight appearances. His effective partnership with Fiorentina’s star, Kean, has undoubtedly been a highlight for Italy during Gattuso’s time in charge.
However, in line with Azzurri tradition, Italy also needed to maintain defensive solidity. Yet, the national team has conceded ten goals in eight games under Gattuso. Their significant 4-1 defeat to Norway at San Siro in November served as a major warning sign leading into the World Cup play-offs, where immense pressure rested upon the Azzurri.