Italy miss out on third World Cup in row – how have they got here?

Italy national football team endured another painful chapter in their football history after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, following a dramatic penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. This unprecedented setback marks the first time a four-time world champion has missed three straight editions of the tournament.

Having already failed to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar, Italy’s latest disappointment confirms a worrying decline for one of football’s most storied nations. Despite their rich history and past dominance, the Azzurri once again fell short when it mattered most.

The match itself was filled with drama and tension. Italy showed resilience, particularly after being reduced to 10 men, but ultimately could not hold their nerve in the penalty shootout. Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed crucial spot-kicks, with Esposito firing his effort over the bar and Cristante striking the underside of the crossbar. These missed opportunities proved decisive as Bosnia-Herzegovina converted all of their penalties with composure.

For Bosnia-Herzegovina, the victory was historic. Led by their experienced captain Edin Dzeko, who at 40 years old continues to inspire, the team secured qualification for only the second World Cup in their history. They will now compete in Group B alongside Canada national football team, Qatar national football team, and Switzerland national football team.

While Bosnia celebrated, it was a night of heartbreak for Italy. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso appeared visibly emotional after the match, expressing his deep disappointment. He admitted that the defeat was extremely painful, not just for him but for the entire nation. Gattuso emphasized that achieving World Cup qualification had been a priority and described the loss as difficult to accept.

Despite the setback, the president of the Italian Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, stated that he wanted Gattuso to remain in his role. However, Gravina also acknowledged that Italian football is currently facing a serious and deep-rooted crisis.

Italy actually started the match brightly and took an early lead. Moise Kean scored a well-taken goal from outside the penalty area after Nicolo Barella capitalized on a mistake by Bosnia’s goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. This early advantage gave Italy hope of controlling the game.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime. Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for fouling Amar Memic when he was through on goal. The red card left Italy a man down and allowed Bosnia-Herzegovina to dominate the second half.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced several outstanding saves to keep Italy in the game as Bosnia pressed relentlessly. However, the pressure eventually paid off. In the 79th minute, Donnarumma parried a header from Dzeko, but Haris Tabakovic reacted quickly to score from the rebound and level the match.

The game proceeded to extra time, where Italy continued to show determination despite their numerical disadvantage. They managed to hold off Bosnia’s attacks and force a penalty shootout, demonstrating resilience and fighting spirit.

In the shootout, Bosnia-Herzegovina displayed perfect composure. Benjamin Tahirovic, Tabakovic, Kerim Alajbegovic, and Esmir Bajraktarevic all converted their penalties, sealing their place in the World Cup.

Italy’s elimination sparked emotional reactions from players. Leonardo Spinazzola expressed disbelief and sadness, noting how difficult it was to accept such a defeat after battling so hard with 10 men. He highlighted that the team had created chances and could have scored more goals, making the outcome even more painful.

Italy’s struggles in World Cup competitions have been evident since their triumph in 2006. After winning their fourth title in Germany, they failed to progress beyond the group stages in both 2010 and 2014. Their recent inability to even qualify for the tournament marks a significant decline.

Interestingly, Italy did achieve success by winning UEFA Euro 2020, defeating England in the final. However, this victory now appears to be an exception rather than a sign of sustained success.

Gattuso’s appointment as manager came during a challenging period. He replaced Luciano Spalletti early in the qualifying campaign after a disappointing run of results. Although Gattuso managed to secure several consecutive victories, including wins against Estonia national football team and Israel national football team, the team ultimately could not secure automatic qualification.

A heavy defeat to Norway national football team further complicated their path, leaving them to rely on the play-offs, where they ultimately fell short.

The decline of Italian football can be traced back to structural and developmental issues. In the past, Italy benefited from a strong youth system that produced world-class players. For example, under Cesare Maldini, the under-21 team achieved remarkable success in the 1990s.

However, changes in European football, particularly the Bosman ruling, significantly altered the landscape. The ruling allowed greater freedom of movement for players, leading to an influx of foreign talent into Italy’s domestic league. While this improved competition, it also reduced opportunities for young Italian players to gain experience at top clubs.

Experts have pointed out that Italian academies are no longer producing enough high-quality players capable of competing at the highest level. Financial challenges have also played a role, with Italian clubs lagging behind their European counterparts in terms of revenue and investment.

Additionally, many stadiums in Italy are outdated, limiting commercial opportunities and affecting overall growth. These factors combined have contributed to the national team’s struggles on the international stage.

Former Italian star Alessandro Del Piero highlighted the importance of improving infrastructure and youth development. Without addressing these issues, Italy may continue to face difficulties in returning to their former glory.

This latest failure adds to a growing list of surprising World Cup qualification disappointments. Historically, even strong teams have occasionally missed out. For example, Argentina national football team failed to qualify for the 1970 World Cup, while England national football team missed the 1974 and 1994 tournaments.

Similarly, the Netherlands national football team, despite their strong footballing tradition, have failed to qualify on several occasions, including 1982 and 2018.

However, Italy’s situation is particularly concerning due to the frequency of their failures in recent years. Missing three consecutive World Cups is a significant blow to their reputation and highlights the need for urgent reform.

In conclusion, Italy’s defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina represents more than just a single loss. It reflects deeper issues within Italian football, including declining player development, financial struggles, and structural challenges. While Bosnia celebrates a historic achievement, Italy must now confront the reality of their situation and take decisive steps to rebuild for the future.