4-time champions Italy have did not qualify for a 3rd consecutive World Cup after shedding to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout of their playoff remaining on Tuesday in Zenica.
The defeat sees Italy develop into the primary former champions to overlook three straight World Cups, with none of the present squad having ever featured on the match.
Italy made a vibrant begin as Moise Kean scored early, however their momentum was disrupted earlier than half-time when centre-back Alessandro Bastoni was despatched off with a direct purple card. Bosnia capitalised late on, with substitute Haris Tabakovic equalising within the 79th minute to make it 1-1.
The match went into further time with Italy diminished to 10 males, however neither aspect may discover a winner within the further half-hour. Within the ensuing penalty shootout, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante each missed their spot kicks, whereas U.S.-born Esmir BajraktareviÄ transformed the decisive penalty to seal Bosniaâs victory.
âWe nonetheless donât imagine it â that weâre out and that it occurred on this method,â Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola stated. âItâs upsetting for everybody. For us, for our households, and for all the youngsters who’ve by no means seen Italy at a World Cup.â
The end result compounds Italyâs latest struggles, following playoff eliminations by Sweden and North Macedonia within the final two World Cup qualification campaigns. The Azzurri final received a knockout match on the match in 2006, after they defeated France within the remaining.
Italy had reached the playoff remaining after beating Northern Eire 2-0 in final weekâs semi-final, whereas Bosnia superior by overcoming Wales in a penalty shootout.
Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden and TĂźrkiye secured qualification. Sweden defeated Poland 3-2, whereas TĂźrkiye edged Kosovo 1-0. Czechia additionally booked their place after beating Denmark in a shootout.
Italyâs absence from the upcoming match means the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 champions will go no less than 16 years with out taking part in on the World Cup.
Their decline dates again to 2010 and 2014, after they did not progress past the group stage, though they did win the European Championship in 2021. The one different time Italy did not qualify for the World Cup was in 1958.
Bosnia will now function of their second World Cup after debuting in 2014, and have been drawn in Group B alongside co-host Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
The defeat is predicted to accentuate scrutiny on coach Gennaro Gattuso, who was appointed in June after Luciano Spalletti was dismissed. Gattuso had overseen a six-match successful run earlier than Italy misplaced once more to Norway in November, ending second of their group and dropping into the playoffs.
âI need to personally apologize since we didnât make it,â Gattuso stated. âRight this moment speaking about my future just isn’t essential. Right this moment it was essential to get to the World Cup.â
Regardless of being ranked twelfth on the earth in comparison with Bosniaâs considerably decrease place, Italy struggled all through the match on the 14,000-capacity Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, as their World Cup drought continues.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Times Nigeria