Italy’s national torment endures. The four-time champions will miss their third successive football World Cup after losing a do-or-die qualifying play-off to Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 on penalties, another crippling blow for the reputation of their once-mighty team.
Scores were tied at 1-1 after extra time at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, where the Azzurri reduced to 10 men just before half-time as Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for chopping down Amar Memic as he was running in on goal.
It took until the 79th minute for Bosnia and Herzegovina to equalise through Haris Tabakovic, sparking a late rally spurred on by a vibrant and partisan home crowd – but neither side could produce a winner, and so it came down to a penalty shootout.
Francesco Pio Esposito, however, blazed Italy’s first over the bar – and then Bryan Cristante slammed their third into the woodwork, allowing Esmir Bajraktarevic to etch his name into national folklore with the winner.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who came to Italy’s rescue time and again during the preceding 120 minutes, could not get near any of the home side’s penalties, which drove Bosnia and Herzegovina to their second World Cup since the break-up of Yugoslavia.
Even more impressively, they prevailed in the shootout despite the non-involvement of their captain and talisman Edin Dzeko, who was injured in the final action of the second half of extra time.
Azzurri players were left stunned and shattered, with disbelief etched all over their faces.
Assuming they make the next one in 2030 – which, on the available evidence, is no guarantee – it will have been 16 years between appearances for Italy, an unimaginable outcome for one of football’s traditional powers.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively. But not even the World Cup’s controversial expansion to 48 teams – including 16 spots for UEFA nations – could change their fortunes.
It’s a blow for FIFA and the three host nations of this year’s World Cup – the United States, Canada and Mexico – who were hoping for the economic boost of Italy’s participation, particularly given the size of the country’s diaspora across North America.
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