20 Years On: Could Any Current Italy Star Crack the 2006 World Cup Squad?

FolioPitch.com – 09 July 2026 | Twenty years to the day since Italy lifted the World Cup in Berlin, the question echoes: would any current Italy player make it into the 2006 World Cup-winning squad? The 2006 side, managed by Marcello Lippi, was a constellation of legends — Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Luca Toni — and they defeated France on penalties to claim the trophy. Fast forward to 2026, and Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after a play-off defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, prompting a stark comparison between the golden generation and the present squad.

The core of the discussion revolves around the lineups. Italy’s 2006 final XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Grosso; Camoranesi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Perrotta; Totti; Toni. In contrast, the 2026 play-off lineup featured Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui. When you compare player for player, it’s hard to see any current Azzurri forcing their way into that historic starting XI. Gianluigi Donnarumma, despite being a world-class goalkeeper, cannot displace Buffon. Sandro Tonali, talented as he is, cannot match Pirlo’s vision. Riccardo Calafiori cannot replicate Cannavaro’s defensive mastery.

But the question ‘would any current Italy player make it into the 2006 World Cup-winning squad’ extends beyond the starting XI. The 2006 squad had 23 players, including backups like Marco Amelia (goalkeeper), Simone Barone (midfield), and Vincenzo Iaquinta (forward). Could any of today’s Italy squad have earned a place among those reserves? For instance, Donnarumma might be considered over Amelia as third-choice goalkeeper. Sandro Tonali could challenge Barone for the final midfield slot. Nicolò Barella, a dynamic box-to-box midfielder, might have been useful cover for Gattuso or Camoranesi. Even Federico Chiesa, when fit, could have provided pace off the bench — a role that Iaquinta filled in 2006.

Yet, even those arguments are tenuous. The 2006 squad was deep: quality defenders like Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Barzagli were on the bench; forwards like Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, and Alberto Gilardino were substitutes in the final. Marcello Lippi had the luxury of leaving world-class talents unused. In contrast, Italy’s 2026 squad, which failed to qualify, lacks that depth. The midfield of Barella, Tonali, and Locatelli is promising but unproven at the highest level. The defence, despite Alessandro Bastoni’s potential, has no one near Cannavaro’s prime. The attack, spearheaded by Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui, pales beside Totti and Toni.

So, would any current Italy player make it into the 2006 World Cup-winning squad? The honest answer is probably not. Even the strongest candidates — Donnarumma, Barella, Calafiori — would struggle to crack the 23-man roster. Donnarumma might make it as a third goalkeeper, but even that is debatable given Peruzzi’s experience. Barella could compete with Barone but faces stiff competition from more accomplished midfielders. Calafiori, though promising, is no Nesta or Cannavaro.

The simple reality is that the 2006 team was one of the greatest in football history, while the current Italy team is in a transitional phase that has failed to deliver silverware or even World Cup qualification. The question ‘would any current Italy player make it into the 2006 World Cup-winning squad’ serves as a sobering reminder of how far the Azzurri have fallen. As the 20th anniversary celebrations continue, fans are left to wonder when, or if, another golden generation will emerge. Until then, the answer remains a firm no.