Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed on Tuesday, falling in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw. The defeat marks the third consecutive World Cup qualification cycle the Azzurri will miss, intensifying scrutiny on head coach Gennaro Gattuso and the future of Italian football. The result has sparked immediate reaction, including pointed criticism from former Valencia goalkeeper and Spanish international, Santi Cañizares.
The match, played at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, saw Italy take the lead through a goal from Moise Kean. However, a red card issued to Alessandro Bastoni before halftime shifted the momentum. Bosnia and Herzegovina equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, forcing the game into extra time and a penalty shootout. Italy faltered from the spot, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missing their attempts, handing Bosnia and Herzegovina a 4-1 victory and a place in the tournament.
Cañizares Criticizes Gattuso and Italian Mentality
Cañizares, who previously had a fraught relationship with Gattuso during the Italian’s tenure as manager of Valencia, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation. Speaking on Radio MARCA, Cañizares questioned the Italian national team’s mentality and specifically criticized Gattuso’s leadership. He suggested that the pressure of representing Italy, particularly after failing to qualify for the previous two World Cups, can be detrimental to players. “It’s very easy to play with the shirt of Como, Genoa or another team, but then when you put on the Italian shirt with the pressure of not being in two World Cups, you are capable of making that kind of action like Bastoni’s expulsion,” he said, referencing the sending-off that proved pivotal in the match.
Cañizares as well expressed a lack of sympathy for the Italian side, stating, “I feel no pity. I have suffered and fought against Italy. It’s an excellent shirt, I wish they were in the World Cup… okay, so far so excellent. But to make a drama out of this today… what do you want me to tell you, Bosnia deserves the same respect.”
He went on to recommend a change in management, stating, “They need to professionalize the selection, bring in the best, bring in a coach who fits or adapts to the Italian national team and surely it will improve. It’s normal that it will improve, it’s impossible to get worse. But this mourning of… ‘good football fans want Italy to be there.’ Look, Bosnia is going, it’s not that the spot will remain vacant.”
Gattuso Expresses Disappointment and Uncertainty
Gattuso himself appeared visibly shaken after the match, describing the defeat as “a difficult blow to digest.” Speaking to RAI Sport, he admitted to being surprised by his team’s performance, praising their heart and commitment despite the ultimate outcome. “It hurts, it really hurts, but we must accept it,” Gattuso said. “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.”
The Italian coach also defended his players, stating they “didn’t deserve to take a beating like that” and expressing pride in their effort. He acknowledged the significance of the result, lamenting the missed opportunity “for ourselves, for Italy, for our sport.” When questioned about his future, Gattuso deflected, stating that it “is not important” at the moment. He added, with a touch of disbelief, “If someone pricks me today, nothing comes out, no blood comes out, nothing.”
According to reports from ESPN Colombia, Gattuso expressed feeling “surprised even by myself today, for the heart they put in, for the attachment.” He acknowledged the team fought hard but ultimately fell short, stating, “We were there in the trenches, we knew how to hold on, but here we are talking for the umpteenth time about not going to the World Cup.”
Italy’s World Cup Drought Continues
This marks the third consecutive World Cup that Italy will not participate in, a shocking downturn for a nation with four World Cup titles to its name, most recently winning in 2006 – a squad that included Gattuso as a player. The failure to qualify automatically from their group, finishing second to Norway, already signaled trouble, and the playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina has only deepened the crisis. The situation raises serious questions about the state of Italian football and the need for significant changes to revitalize the national team.
Leonardo Spinazzola, the Napoli defender, also expressed his disappointment, stating he couldn’t believe they had been eliminated in such a manner, according to ESPN Colombia. He lamented that this was likely his last chance to appear in a World Cup and felt the pain “for all of Italy.”
The defeat leaves Italy facing a period of introspection and rebuilding. The focus will now shift to identifying the root causes of their struggles and implementing a long-term strategy to restore the nation’s standing in international football. The search for a new coach, or a renewed commitment to Gattuso, will be a crucial first step in that process.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s victory, meanwhile, represents a historic moment for the nation, securing their place in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will undoubtedly be eager to make their mark on the global stage.
What’s next: Italy will begin the process of evaluating their performance and planning for the future, with a focus on qualifying for the UEFA European Championship in 2028. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is expected to announce its plans for the national team in the coming weeks.
