4 min readJun 8, 2026 03:05 PM IST A World Cup without Italy, still hurts. Even if there have been two World Cups before when they missed, to get used to the feeling. A 48-team World Cup it might be, with new jazzy tiny, dot island teams to gloat, but some of the old failed, faded staples, who missed out on qualification to Mexico-USA-Canada will be missed. Here are the reasons: ITALY That azure-blue jersey. Those Italian players pleading to refs with their 🤌🏻 emoji-talking hands. The non-sly defensive backlines. The gloriously creative, brooding midfielders. The gloriously ineffective forwards – remember Luca Toni? The post-Buffon gaping hole in goal. What’s not to miss? POLAND Robert Lewandowski of course. But just the stubborn effort to utter those unpronouncable names for two weeks atleast – Włodzimierz Smolarek, Paweł Kryszałowicz, Emmanuel Olisadebe, Marcin Żewłakow, Bartosz Bosacki, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Jan Bednarek, Piotr Zieliński. Just when that last name was getting easy to say, Poland decides to not qualify. They had Aston Villa’s Patty Cash this time. But your loss …