There is no shortage of fingers being pointed within Calcio these days: at the ex-manager, the players, federation president, i stranieri, Serie A, the clubs, the Ultras, and even the fans. Who is to blame for Italy's failure to qualify for Russian? Perhaps all of the above and more. 

If it's true a club wins and loses as a group, then the same must be true for La Nazionale. Anyone who has lent hand or heart to the Azzurri must accept some blame as there is more than enough to go around. 

It's too easy to point fingers at Ventura. While he got it all wrong - in terms of player selection, tactics and inability to motivate, let's remember. Would Italy have qualified if Belotti's header not gone wide in the sixth minute of the first leg? Would Italy have qialified if Darmian's blast had hit the back of the net instead of the post? Would Italy have qualified if Insigne had been used in his natural position. Maybe. The sad part is we'll never know. The truly sad part is when did just qualifying become the goal for La Nazionale? Let alone an unattainable goal for Calcio. Those missed opportunities may turn out to be vital to the reemergence of Calcio. 

Why did it come to this? Were we all so arrogant to miss how poorly the team played - especially after the loss to Spain? Would intervention by Tavecchio at that point made a difference? It's hard to imagine things could have turned out worse. 

That Tavecchio has not resigned is proof enough of how inbred Calcio is. Self preservation rules at all costs and at every level. The concept of "for the good of the game" appears lost. More than any physical or tactical error this may be the biggest challenge to overcome. 

A big-name manager might save Tavecchio's job for a while, but can anyone solve the laundry list of probems that have been allowed to fester for so long: Aging stadiums, poor attendance, racist behavior in the stands, hoarding of young, domestic talent yet failing to provide playing time - especially at top clubs, unequal distribution of television revenues, too many teams in Serie A & B leading to too many games and injuries, and a complete lack of coordination in terms of the style of play and training within the national team program ... (Largely lost in the defeat in San Siro was the disgraceful behavior of fans whistling during the Swedish anthem. Off-field antics like this only further diminish Calcio.)

All of these problems contributed to the failure to qualify for Russia. None of these are breaking news, but the Calcio has been unable to resolve them. Most have been ignored for too long. Sure, one can point to successes clubs like Sassuolo and Atalanta have had with largely domestic talent or even Juve's stadium. However, these "successes" are moderate at best. While significant for small clubs, qualifying for Europa League is not likely to lead to winning a World Cup. Especially, because the clubs don't have the resources to compete even in the lower level of Europe without struggling in Serie A. And, despite all its history and "know-how" how does Juve with its 40,000 seat stadium, expect to defeat clubs that play before 60,000 to 80,000 fans regularly? Free signings may be enough to reach the CL final, but as we have seen twice, they have not been enough to lift the Cup. 

Truth be told Serie A has become a combination of a training ground for young international talent, and a place for veterans to play before heading to China, MLS or back to their original clubs. The starting lineups of Juve, Napoli and Roma are full of foreigners - especially at midfield and attack. This is not to criticize the players in any way, but it is simply to point out the reduction in opportunities for domestic players to grow. Rather than developing our own, we are developing the very players we compete with internationally. And, as soon as they have "grown" they are off to reap windfall contracts. 

Many are looking to Ancelotti to save La Nazionale and perhaps Calcio itself. It's a big ask. A very big ask.  One has to wonder if Ancelotti's greater gift to Calcio would be refusing the position at this point. This would likely add pressure on Tavecchio to resign. It would be terribly naive to suggest that Tavecchio's departure will solve the problems listed above. However, given his track record, it's difficult to imagine Calcio reemerging under his leadership. 

Ironically, Serie A is showing some signs of a turnaround this season, but not withour a price being paid by young, domestic talent. Bernadeschi, who started regularly at Fiorentina, has seen little time with Juve. Rugani is seen as a future staple of Juve and La Nazaionale, yet he too, sees more of the bench than the field.These are troubling signs.

Still national youth teams have shown some positive signs. In the USA, American players fall behind those of the rest of the world at ages 18-22 as college soccer largely restricts their development. Ironically, MLS is full of players who helped cost the USA a spot in Russia. In Serie A, we are seeing promising players at age 22-24 struggling for regular playing time. This has to change. We simply cannot have a national team colors comprised of part-time Serie A players.  

The path to reemergence is likely to be longer than most realize. The Calcio we love is not just a missed header or a post away from returning. The good news is there is a role for all to play. Showing patience without continuing to accept mediocrity may be the role of tifosi. The willingess of the game's power brokers to think about something other than themselves is going to be vital. Is there the willingness for all of us to change for the good of Calcio, Serie A and La Nazionali? Time will tell.