Italy’s footballing nightmare reached a new low Tuesday as the Azzurri fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 4-1 penalty shootout, missing out on their third consecutive World Cup.
Despite the historic failure, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has asked head coach Gennaro Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon to remain in their roles.
After a 1-1 draw in Zenica, Italy lost the shootout, becoming the first former champions to miss three straight tournaments.
A devastated Gattuso, who took over last June, said the loss was “painful” and refused to comment on his future, stating his personal status “wasn’t important” compared to the national crisis.
The FIGC board will meet next week to discuss the future of Italian football as the team sits out the 2026 tournament in North America.
