Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri will miss out on this year’s tournament in North America, with Turkey, the Czech Republic and Sweden all guaranteed their places in the finals.
In the intercontinental qualifiers, the Democratic Republic of the Congo qualified for the first time since 1974 and Iraq took the last place in the World Cup.
Italy have won the World Cup four times, but failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and will have to watch from afar when the field is expanded to 48 teams from the US, Canada and Mexico.
Bosnia won 4-1 on penalties in Zenica after their play-off final ended 1-1 after extra time, Sandro Tonali was the only Italian to score from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito scored the first free-kick and Bryan Cristante headed the ball into the net.
Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead on 15 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 men when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half.
Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, and with no further goals scored in extra time, the tie was decided by penalty kicks.
