In the shootout, Bosnia-Herzegovina displayed remarkable composure, converting all four of their penalty kicks. In contrast, Italy faltered, with Francesco Esposito and Bryan Cristante missing their attempts. This defeat marked Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, a stark reality for a nation that has historically dominated the sport.

Gennaro Gattuso, the head coach of Italy, expressed his disappointment, stating, “It hurts, because we needed it for us, for all of Italy and for our movement. A blow that’s difficult to digest.” His sentiments were echoed by player Leonardo Spinazzola, who lamented, “Italian children will see another World Cup without Italy.”

Observers are left to ponder the implications of this defeat for Italian football. With the last World Cup appearance dating back to 2014, the question arises: what do we call it now that it has become the norm?

As the dust settles on this shocking result, the future of Italian football remains uncertain. The Azzurri must regroup and reassess their strategies if they hope to reclaim their place on the world stage.

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