Italy faced another painful night as they failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, extending their streak of disappointment to a third consecutive edition without the four-time champions. The Azzurri, one of football’s most storied nations, were unable to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final, despite taking an early lead through Moises Kean.
A red card for Alessandro Bastoni gave the hosts a glimmer of hope, and Haris Tankovic’s equaliser sent the match into extra time and eventually penalties. While Bosnia converted all their spot-kicks, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed, sealing Italy’s fate and leaving Gennaro Gattuso’s team watching the tournament from home—despite the expanded format with 48 teams.
Italian newspapers reacted strongly to the latest setback for the national team, highlighting the deep frustration and despair among fans and pundits alike.
Reactions from Italian Media
The front page of Tuttosport carries the headline “Via Tutti,” meaning “Everyone out,” with columnist Guido Vaciago calling for sweeping changes. He argues that while a “reset” is never a solution, it could be the “medicine” needed for a proud footballing nation that has now failed to qualify three times following their 2006 World Cup victory in Berlin.
Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport both use the same headline: “Tutti a Casa,” or “Everyone at Home.” This reflects the widespread sense of defeat and the need for introspection within Italian football.
Manager’s Response
Despite the heavy loss, manager Gattuso remained composed, refusing to dwell on his future role. “I just finished speaking to the team. I can only thank them, as it had been years since I’d seen the Nazionale play with such heart,” he said, according to Sky Sport Italia.
“It hurts, it really hurts, but we must accept it. I don’t want to talk about referees or anything else. We could’ve scored a second goal and didn’t. We suffered with all those crosses, we gave everything. I am proud of them. It hurts to accept this verdict. It will take time. On a personal level, it’s a heavy blow.”
Scathing Criticism
Corriere della Sera described Bosnia’s performance as a “humiliation,” while Fabrizio Roncone wrote: “It is a complete nightmare, but Gattuso deserves thanks: he had nothing to do with this. In a normal country, Gravina would resign.”
Gabriele Romagnoli from La Repubblica commented on the lack of long-term planning, stating, “20 years of solitude lived in the absence of a plan.” Meanwhile, Maurizio Crosetti, also from the same newspaper, called Italy’s “habit of mediocrity our evil.”
Another column highlighted how Italy displayed “the face of disaster” and went “from joy to hell” in Bosnia.
A Nation in Disarray
La Stampa’s homepage features the word “disaster,” with a photo of Kean in despair after coming to terms with Italy’s painful reality. Columnist Maurizio De Giovanni concludes that the match showed “a mirror of the worst country.”
The failure has sparked a broader conversation about the state of Italian football, with many questioning the lack of vision and direction. The country’s inability to maintain its previous standards has left fans and analysts searching for answers.
Looking Ahead
As the dust settles on another disappointing chapter, the question remains: what comes next for Italian football? The pressure is on the governing bodies, coaches, and players to re-evaluate their approach and rebuild the foundations of a once-proud national team.
For now, the focus is on healing and learning from this painful experience. The road to redemption may be long, but the hope is that this setback will serve as a catalyst for change.
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