Italy doesn't recover: misses the World Cup for the third consecutive time
As in 2018 and 2022, Italy, defeated by Bosnia on penalties on Tuesday in the European playoff final, will watch the next World Cup on television...
TL;DR
- Italy will miss the 2026 World Cup after losing to Bosnia in a penalty shootout in the European playoffs.
- This is the third consecutive World Cup Italy has failed to qualify for, following the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
- Coach Gennaro Gattuso, appointed in June, may face dismissal due to the failure.
- The crisis is also impacting the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina.
- Despite winning Euro 2020, Italy has a history of disappointing performances in major tournaments since their last World Cup win in 2006.
- Former player Gianluigi Buffon cited a lack of foresight in technical and tactical models twenty years ago as a contributing factor.
- The FIGC is implementing a new training program for youth coaches to address technical deficiencies.
- A low percentage of selectable Italian players in Serie A (33%) is also seen as a problem, with clubs preferring foreign talent.