Italy Faces Historic Low: Donnarumma and Azzurri Miss World Cup Again
Zenica, Bosnia – Italy’s World Cup drought continues, extending to a stunning three consecutive tournament absences after a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. The loss marks a new nadir for the four-time World Cup champions, a program grappling with a crisis of qualification and confidence.
The match itself finished 1-1 after extra time, with Moise Kean giving Italy an early lead only for Bosnia to equalize in the 79th minute. Yet, the shootout proved decisive, and disastrous for the Azzurri. While Bosnia’s ultras celebrated securing a spot in the tournament with a display referencing U.S. Visas, Italy’s players were left in despair. [1]
Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the team captain, was unable to save any of Bosnia’s penalties. Italy’s own hopes were extinguished by missed spot-kicks from Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante, ultimately sealing a 4-1 defeat in the shootout. [3] The defeat also drew criticism for Donnarumma’s pre-penalty behavior, with reports alleging he was attempting a distracting tactic involving a sheet of paper belonging to the opposing goalkeeper. [4]
“I cried because of the enormous sadness I’m feeling, along with the entire Azzurri team, of which I’m proud to be captain, and I know you, fans of our national team, are feeling it too,” Donnarumma said in the aftermath. [3]
This latest failure is particularly poignant for Donnarumma, who made his senior debut for Italy in 2016 at the age of 17. He was just 15 when Italy last exited the World Cup in the group stage in 2014, and now faces the prospect of being at least 31 years old before having another opportunity to play in the tournament. [3]
The weight of the situation clearly resonated with the Manchester City keeper, who took to social media to express his heartbreak and determination. He wrote that restoring Italy “back where it deserves to be” would require “a lot of strength, passion, and conviction.” [3] He urged continued belief, stating, “Always believe; this is the driving force behind moving forward. Because life knows how to reward those who supply their all, without holding back.” [3]
Italy’s struggles are now entering unprecedented territory, becoming the first former champion to miss three consecutive World Cups. [1] Manager Gennaro Gattuso, visibly distressed, apologized to fans and praised his team’s effort despite the devastating outcome. He highlighted Alessandro Bastoni’s red card and a missed chance by Moise Kean as key moments that could have altered the course of the match. [1]
Context: Italy’s World Cup Qualification Record
Italy has a storied history in the World Cup, winning the tournament four times (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). However, recent qualifying campaigns have been fraught with difficulty. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, losing in a playoff to Sweden. In 2022, they suffered a shocking playoff defeat to North Macedonia, repeating the pattern of playoff heartbreak. This latest loss to Bosnia continues that trend, raising serious questions about the future of Italian football.
The defeat raises fundamental questions about the state of Italian football. Is it a systemic issue, a lack of tactical innovation, or simply a period of misfortune?
Will a new generation of players and a renewed focus on youth development be enough to restore Italy to its former glory?
