Italy awoke to national disappointment on Wednesday after its football team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, losing a playoff against Bosnia in Zenica.
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“The World Cup curse,” read the front page of Italy’s Corriere della Sera, reflecting the disillusionment of a country that has produced some of football’s greatest stars but has struggled to compete at the global stage since its 2006 triumph. Sports dailies La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport declared, “We’re all staying at home,” signaling another summer without World Cup football.
Italy’s defeat came after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, followed by a 4-1 loss in the penalty shootout. Moise Kean had put Italy ahead in the 15th minute, but the team was reduced to 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni received a straight red card. Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic and ultimately triumphed in penalties, with only Sandro Tonali converting for Italy.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso, one of the heroes of Italy’s 2006 World Cup win, expressed his dismay. “I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow. It’s difficult to digest,” he said, remaining non-committal about his future amid calls for federation changes.
The defeat has sparked public outrage. Italy’s Sport Minister Andrea Abodi urged FIGC president Gabriele Gravina to resign, stating, “It’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.” Protesters even threw eggs at the FIGC headquarters in Rome, highlighting widespread frustration with the national football administration.
Meanwhile, Bosnia celebrated its historic qualification. Fans poured into streets across the country, with thousands gathering for live viewing parties after tickets for the 18,000-capacity stadium sold out within minutes. “The match was tense until the last second, but we knew in our hearts that we would win,” said 19-year-old fan Teo Laic.
Elsewhere in the playoff rounds, Turkey, Sweden, and the Czech Republic also secured their World Cup berths:
Turkey defeated Kosovo 1-0, with Kerem Akturkoglu scoring the decisive goal. This marks Turkey’s first World Cup appearance since reaching the semi-finals in 2002.
Sweden edged Poland 3-2 in a dramatic match, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring the late winner. Sweden joins Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
Czech Republic qualified for its first World Cup since 2006, overcoming Denmark 3-1 in penalties after a 2-2 draw in Prague. They will compete in Group A with South Africa, South Korea, and Mexico.
While Italy grapples with a sports crisis and questions about leadership in its football federation, the Balkan states and other qualifiers are gearing up to compete on the world stage, bringing fresh excitement to this year’s tournament.
