"It hurts so much" - Italy mourn after missing out on the World Cup

The day after yet another failure, la grande tristezza reigns everywhere from South Tyrol to Sicily: the great sadness. In Italy's cafés, there is only one topic of discussion over morning cappuccinos under rainy skies: how could the Squadra Azzurra mess up the decisive play-off game in Bosnia-Herzegovina and miss out on the World Cup for the third time in a row? Even the Chamber of Deputies in Rome is concerned that it's all over before it even starts.

"The drama is that it's no longer a drama, it's a habit. That's just the way we are. We're little more than nothing. And we're out," laments the daily newspaper "La Repubblica". "This is more than a shame. It's a disappearance. We're as extinct as the monk seals." Rival newspaper "Corriere della Sera" even paints "Italy's apocalypse" on the wall.

"Unstoppable decline"

The biggest sports newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" writes of "another catastrophe" for which we should have been prepared. "After Sweden, after North Macedonia, it is now Bosnia that is knocking us out of the competition that we have always considered our own."

Italy's football is in the biggest crisis in its history. Just like in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, the once proud football nation will only be a spectator at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Their fate was sealed with a 1:4 defeat on penalties against the underdogs from tiny Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tears flowed in the stadium of Zenica, a city of 120,000 inhabitants - a name that no one in Italy had ever heard before and now everyone does.

The coach apologizes

Also to coach Gennaro Gattuso. "I personally apologize to the Italians. I didn't make it. It hurts so much," said the 2006 world champion immediately after the game, his voice choked with tears. He had taken over the team in June with the clear objective of leading Italy to the World Cup. The personnel changes expected in the country of the four-time world champions are likely to affect him too.

He does not want to talk about his future now, the 48-year-old emphasized: "We should talk about Italy here, about the blue jersey, about the fact that it is another setback, even if we did not deserve it this time."

Drama in the duel from the spot

Italy fought back to the best of their ability after defender Alessandro Bastoni was shown a red card in the first half for an emergency brake. Moise Kean, who had put the favorites ahead in the 15th minute, missed the chance to put the game to bed in the second half. Instead, Grenchen-born Bundesliga professional Haris Tabakovic (79) equalized for Bosnia.

In extra time, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved his team with several strong saves in the penalty shoot-out - but he was powerless. And also a little unfair. TV footage showed the Manchester City keeper tampering with Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj's cheat sheet. But even this diversionary maneuver didn't help: all Bosnians scored, two Italians missed.

In the meantime, the Italians would have to wear triple mourning corduroy in addition to their jerseys with the four world champion stars. Che peccato! What a shame! The last World Cup triumph in Berlin in 2006 was 20 years ago. Apart from Italy becoming European champions in 2021, there have only been disappointments since then.

A whole generation is now growing up who have never seen their footballers at a World Cup. The Azzurri lost their last World Cup match 1-0 to Uruguay in 2014, in the group stage, just like in 2010. They will not be back until 2030 at the earliest.

Italy's club football is also in crisis

However, it is by no means just the national team that is in crisis - the clubs are not doing well internationally either. Atalanta Bergamo were the last Italian club to bow out of the Champions League in the round of 16 - with an embarrassing overall result of 2:10 against Bayern Munich. The big names such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus Turin and AS Roma are also already out of the European competitions. Only FC Bologna and Fiorentina are still involved in the Europa League and Conference League respectively.

The future of national association boss Gabriele Gravina is now just as open as that of national coach Gattuso, who spoke self-critically of a "disgrace". However, he did not want to pass the baton on his team, as they had "really given their all over the past few months".

Dzeko injured in the shoulder

Italy are currently in 12th place in the FIFA rankings, but that won't last much longer. Bosnia-Herzegovina, incidentally, are now in 65th place. But the team led by star striker Edin Dzeko, who injured his shoulder in the final stages of extra time, will now face Switzerland, Qatar and co-hosts Canada in Group B at the World Cup. And a great footballing nation is watching.