Italy Misses Third Straight World Cup And No One Is Shocked Anymore

Italy's once-celebrated national team will miss a third straight World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in the European playoffs on Tuesday, deepening a crisis that has seen the four-time champion fail to qualify for the tournament since 2014.

Despite taking an early lead through Moise Kean, Italy's campaign unraveled when defender Alessandro Bastoni was shown a direct red card before halftime. Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute, forcing extra time. With the score still level at 1-1, Bosnia prevailed 4-1 in the shootout, with Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missing for Italy.

The result marks Italy's third consecutive elimination in the qualifying playoffs, following losses to Sweden ahead of the 2018 World Cup and to North Macedonia in 2022. The Azzurri have now not appeared at soccer's flagship event since 2014, when they failed to advance past the group stage, a fate that also befell them in 2010.

Italy's last World Cup knockout match remains its 2006 final victory over France, also decided by penalties.

In a front-page editorial Wednesday, Gazzetta dello Sport described the latest failure as "The third apocalypse," observing that "there's no longer a feeling of shock or an unexpected catastrophe. It's becoming the norm."

Coach Gennaro Gattuso offered little explanation. "It's too easy to say what's working and what's not working," he said. "The fact is that Italy has failed to qualify for three World Cups."

The national team's struggles reflect broader issues within Italian soccer. No Serie A club has won the Champions League since 2010, and all four Italian representatives were eliminated before the quarterfinals this season. Domestic fixture scheduling has also drawn criticism, with national team coaches repeatedly lobbying, unsuccessfully, for more preparation time.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has called for the resignation of Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina. "It's evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled," Abodi said, "and that process needs to start with new leadership."

Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi added: "Unfortunately the third consecutive elimination from the World Cup is not an April Fool's joke. It's a sign that Italian soccer has failed."

For Bosnia, the victory secures just its second World Cup appearance, and first since 2014. U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive penalty.

"We still don't believe it, that we're out and that it happened in this manner," Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola said. "It's upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup."