Incredible: Italy Crash Out of World Cup for Third Consecutive Time
Four-time world champions Italy have suffered another devastating blow to their footballing legacy, failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive edition.
In a dramatic playoff final at the Bilino Polje Stadium, Bosnia and Herzegovina triumphed in a penalty shootout, sending shockwaves through the football world and leaving the Azzurri absent from the sport’s biggest stage once again.
Italy struck first through Moise Kean, but the match quickly turned against them when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card before halftime.
Reduced to ten men, Italy struggled to contain Bosnia’s late surge, and substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute. With the score locked at 1-1 after extra time, the contest was decided from the spot.
Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties, while U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive kick to seal Bosnia’s historic qualification.
The defeat marks a humiliating milestone: Italy becomes the first former world champion to miss three consecutive World Cups. None of the current squad has ever played in the tournament, a stark reminder of the decline since their last knockout-stage victory in the 2006 final against France.
‘It’s upsetting for everyone, for us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup,’ said defender Leonardo Spinazzola.
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso added, ‘I want to personally apologize since we didn’t make it. Talking about my future is not important today. What mattered was qualifying.’
