Former Esteghlal Coach Backs Italy as World Cup Contenders
A former head coach of Tehran’s Esteghlal football club has made a surprising prediction about the upcoming FIFA World Cup, shifting his focus from the Persian Gulf Pro League to the international stage.
Andrea Stramaccioni, who once led Esteghlal and briefly took the team to the top of the Iranian league table, has since retired from coaching and now works as a television pundit in his native Italy.
Following Italy’s commanding 5-0 victory over Estonia in a recent qualifier, Stramaccioni was full of praise for the national team. He stated that if the “Azzurri” (The Blues) can maintain their current positive trajectory, they have the potential to be serious contenders for the World Cup title.
This is a significant claim, given that the Italian national team has faced considerable challenges in recent years, failing to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Stramaccioni’s optimistic outlook points to a potential resurgence for one of football’s historic powerhouses.
