Italy have didn’t qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row after dropping away at Bosnia and Herzegovina with 10 males.
Italy won’t participate on this 12 months’s World Cup (Picture: Getty)
Italy have didn’t qualify for a 3rd successive World Cup as their curse within the competitors continues. Since beating France in an unforgettable closing 20 years in the past, the Italians have received only one World Cup match, crashing out within the group levels in each 2010 and 2014 earlier than failing to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. And they won’t function this summer time both after struggling heartbreak by the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout.
Gennaro Gattuso’s group beat Northern Eire within the semi-finals of the qualifiers and led 1-0 after quarter-hour away in Bosnia, courtesy of Moise Kean. However Alessandro Bastoni was despatched off shortly earlier than half-time and the 10-man hosts rallied, with Haris Tabakovic equalising within the 79th minute to drive further time. Italy held on to take the sport to penalties.
Pio Esposito blazed Italy’s first spot-kick over the crossbar earlier than Bryan Cristante, with their third, thumped his effort from 12 yards in opposition to the crossbar. Sandro Tonali was their solely scorer. Esmir Bajraktarevic stepped as much as safe a 4-1 triumph for the Bosnians, who transformed all of their penalties.
Italy are the primary former winners ever to overlook out on three World Cups in a row. Bosnia, in the meantime, take their place in Group B on the World Cup and face co-hosts Toronto of their first match. Switzerland and Qatar await after that.
Elsewhere, Sweden – managed by former Chelsea and Brighton supervisor Graham Potter – beat Poland 3-2 by way of Viktor Gyokeres’ 88th-minute winner after lacking Qatar 4 years in the past. And the Czech Republic surprised Denmark 3-1 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after further time. Turkey have been 1-0 victors in Kosovo to succeed in their first World Cup since 2002.
Sweden be a part of Tunisia, Netherlands and Japan in Group F. The Czechs go into Group A with co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. And Turkey tackle one other co-hosts, the US, plus Paraguay and Australia in Group D.
Italy’s newest dose of World Cup heartbreak got here on penalties (Picture: Getty)
2026 World Cup teams in full
Group L
England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
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