Italy will miss out on a third straight World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a breathless qualification play-off final on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
The Azzurri blew their chance to reach this year’s tournament in North America with a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat.
Esmir Bajraktarevic shot the winning spot-kick in Zenica where the Bosnians booked a place in Group B and matches against co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar and plunged Italy into a new nightmare.
Four-time world champions, Italy took the lead through Moise Kean in the 15th minute but then folded under the weight of expectation in Zenica after having to play more than half the match with 10 men.
Watch Italy lose the heartbreaker in the video player above
Italy were already firmly on the back foot when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for chopping down Amar Memic four minutes before half-time, and Haris Tabakovic poked home Bosnia’s deserved leveller in the 79th minute to take the match to extra time.
And Italy’s World Cup horror show continued in the subsequent shoot-out, with Pio Esposito smashing their first penalty over the bar, and when Bryan Cristante hit the bar and Bajraktarevic squeezed his effort under Gianluigi Donnarumma, the game was up.
Italy are the first World Cup winners to miss out on three consecutives editions of the tournament, which this year will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It is unthinkable that the 2006 champions will miss a third consecutive FIFA World Cup given the tournament was expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
The Italians missing out again is quite extraordinary, especially given they won the 2021 Euros.
Italy’s manager Gennaro Gattuso said in October: “I’ll take credit if I manage to achieve the goal (of World Cup qualification), otherwise I’ll go and live far away from Italy.”
After the loss to Bosnia, he said: “We did not deserve this. We show passion, we played with 10 men since minute 40… we are sad, but this is football.
“I’m proud of my team. We are hurt.”
Bosnia meanwhile reached their second World Cup finals, and first since 2014, in front of a passionate crowd who were sent delirious by Bajraktarevic’s decisive penalty.
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres‘ late strike against Poland has sent Sweden to the World Cup.
Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland saw their dreams come to an end in last week’s semi-finals.
Bitter twist after Aussie chose Italy
It’s a for 22-year-old Cristian Volpato, who playes for Serie A side Sassuolo and has turned down requests from Tony Popovic to play for the Socceroos after being born and raised in Australia.
“I spoke to the coach (Popovic). They’ve been wanting to call me to Australia for a few years, but I grew up watching the Azzurri, even the coach, and I’m waiting for Italy,” Volpato said last month.
“Then we’ll see how the rest goes.”
He has represented Italy since 2022 but his country of choice won’t be featuring at this year’s World Cup.
Socceroos World Cup group locked in
Australia’s World Cup group is now set – with the final piece of the puzzle falling into place.
And it’s a significant banana skin that has been dropped into Group D, with world No.22 Turkey forcing their way into the 2026 World Cup.
Turkey qualified on Tuesday after winning 1-0 away to Kosovo in their European play-off final.
Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute to take Turkey to their first World Cup since 2002.
They will go into Group D with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
The Socceroos defeated Curacao 5-1 on Tuesday night, with Nestory Irankunda scoring two goals and going viral for a unique goal celebration.
The Australians had a 1-0 win against Cameroon last week.
