Italy Fails to Qualify for Third Consecutive World Cup After Penalty Shootout Heartbreak Against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Four-time World Cup winners Italy have been stunned by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Having missed out on the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments, Italy has become the first former champion in World Cup history to miss three successive editions.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, coach Gennaro Gattuso's side managed to hold off Bosnia's relentless attacks to force the game into penalties. However, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot-kicks.