Italy’s World Cup misery continued as the four-time champions suffered a heartbreaking exit, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina after a tense 1-1 draw in their playoff final on Tuesday.
The defeat marks Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, extending a shocking run for one of football’s most decorated nations. Their last appearance came in 2014, the same year Bosnia made their only previous appearance at the global tournament.
Italy started brightly, taking the lead in the 15th minute through Moise Kean, who fired a शानदार first-time strike into the top corner after a mistake by Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off just before halftime, leaving Italy to battle with 10 men.
Bosnia capitalized on the numerical advantage and equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, sending the match into a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Italy faltered badly. Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante both missed their spot-kicks, while Bosnia converted all of theirs with composure. Youngster Kerim Alajbegovic once again showed nerves of steel, scoring a crucial penalty just as he did in the semi-final win over Wales.
Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez praised his team’s mentality, highlighting the fearless attitude of his young squad. “These players have character. They play with a brutal calmness and make us proud,” he said.
The victory sends Bosnia into Group B of the upcoming World Cup, where they will face co-hosts Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
For Italy, the loss triggers another period of deep reflection. Once a powerhouse of international football, they are now the only World Cup winners to miss three consecutive tournaments.
A visibly emotional Leonardo Spinazzola summed up the mood, saying, “Italian children will watch another World Cup without Italy. It’s hard to believe. We fought with everything, even with 10 men, but this is a huge disappointment.”
Despite a spirited performance and several chances, Italy’s inability to finish the job once again proved costly, leaving fans and players devastated.