Zenica, Bosnia: Four-time champions Italy crashed out of another World Cup, losing a penalty shootout to 66th-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoffs—marking a third straight humiliating absence from soccer's grandest stage. The Azzurri, reduced to 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni's pre-half red card, led early through Moise Kean but crumbled as sub Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute, forcing extra time and a 4-1 shootout defeat. Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed for Italy; U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević sealed Bosnia's first qualification since 2014.
"It's too easy to say what's working and what's not working. The fact is that Italy has failed to qualify for three World Cups. We're having a tough time achieving our goals," coach Gennaro Gattuso lamented. "Both with the national team and with our clubs." Defender Leonardo Spinazzola added: "We still don't believe it — that we're out and that it happened in this manner." Gravina, Italian federation president, admitted: "We realize we're in a huge crisis." No current Azzurri has played a World Cup finals; an entire generation under 15 knows only the 2014 group-stage exit.
In other playoff action, Viktor Gyokeres struck in the 88th to sink Poland 3-2, sending Graham Potter's Sweden to the World Cup for the first time since their 2018 quarterfinals—denying Robert Lewandowski, 37, likely his last shot. Turkey edged Kosovo 1-0 with Kerem Aktürkoğlu's deft touch turning Orkun Kökçü's cross-shot into the winner, booking their first appearance since 2002; they'll join the U.S., Paraguay, and Australia in Group D, while Kosovo's debut dream faded despite joining FIFA in 2016. The Czech Republic triumphed 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Denmark—Michal Sadílek decisive—returning since 2006 to face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A.
Italy's paper superiority—12th-ranked, 60 million population, €1B player salaries vs. Bosnia's 3.5M people and far humbler wages—meant nothing in Zenica's cauldron. Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti mid-qualifiers, apologized: "I want to personally apologize since we didn't make it. Today talking about my future is not important. Today it was important to get to the World Cup." The 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006 winners last lifted the trophy beating France on pens; their drought now hits 16 years.