Italy’s football crisis deepened after the four-time World Cup champions failed to qualify for the tournament for a third consecutive time, sparking widespread disappointment and criticism across the country.
The Azzurri’s hopes of reaching the next World Cup ended on Tuesday night in Zenica, where they lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina after the match ended level and Italy were reduced to 10 men before halftime.
The defeat has triggered a wave of frustration among fans, politicians, and football analysts, with many questioning the direction of Italian football nearly two decades after the nation last lifted the World Cup trophy in 2006.
Standing near a newsstand in central Rome, 65-year-old Tommaso Silvestri scanned newspaper headlines filled with words like “apocalypse,” “scandal,” and “disaster,” reflecting the mood of a country stunned by the result.
He said the performance showed how far the national team has fallen, noting that several players struggled to even hit the target during the match.
Italy’s football fortunes have largely declined in recent major tournaments since their 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany. The team’s only recent major success came in 2021 when the Azzurri surprised many by defeating England at Wembley to win the UEFA European Championship.
For many fans, however, that victory now feels like an exception rather than a sign of resurgence.
The latest defeat quickly sparked reactions across Italy’s political and cultural landscape. Ignazio La Russa, president of the Italian Senate and a senior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, expressed deep frustration on social media, saying the nation had feared this outcome even while hoping for a different result.
Prominent author and anti-mafia campaigner Roberto Saviano blamed deeper systemic problems within Italian football, pointing to issues ranging from poor governance to the lack of investment in youth development.
Saviano argued that many clubs have become financially compromised and overly reliant on buying foreign players rather than nurturing local talent, including second-generation Italian athletes.
Across Rome, longtime supporters voiced disbelief at the team’s repeated failure to reach football’s biggest stage. Giovanni Colli, a 71-year-old fan sipping espresso near the Pantheon, said missing three consecutive World Cups was unimaginable for a country with such a rich football tradition.
He suggested sweeping changes were needed, including leadership resignations and greater opportunities for younger players.
Italy’s disappointment was reflected in the emotional reaction of national team coach Rino Gattuso, who struggled to hold back tears after the defeat.
The former midfield star who helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup was appointed head coach only last June. Despite the painful result, Gattuso said he remained proud of the players’ effort on the pitch.
Italy briefly raised hopes during the match when Moise Kean scored, but the game ultimately went to penalties after defender Alessandro Bastoni received an early red card that left the team playing with ten men.
Gattuso acknowledged that missed chances played a decisive role in the outcome, admitting that football often punishes teams that fail to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Sports journalist Elisabetta Esposito of La Gazzetta dello Sport said the latest failure highlights a deeper crisis facing Italian football and warned it could take years to rebuild the national team’s competitiveness.
She noted that loyalty to club teams is increasingly overshadowing support for the national side, particularly among younger fans.
According to Esposito, the danger now is that repeated failures could further weaken the connection between young Italians and the Azzurri, creating a generation that has never experienced the pride of seeing their country succeed on the world stage.
She added that rebuilding the national team will require a long-term strategy focused on development and cohesion rather than quick fixes aimed at immediate results.
For some Italians, the shock had not even fully registered. On a busy street in Rome, a passerby named Teresa reacted with surprise when told the national team would not be playing in the next World Cup, describing the news as a disaster even though she admitted she did not closely follow football.
