“The World Cup curse,” said the front page of Italy’s main daily Corriere della Sera, calling for rebuilding in a country that has produced some of the game’s greatest players but has won only one match at the finals since lifting the trophy for the fourth time in 2006.
Headlines in La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, the country’s two main sports newspapers, both said “We’re all staying at home”, in reference to another summer without a World Cup.
Fans in Rome were left stunned after Italy suffered a 4-1 penalty shootout loss to Bosnia on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw, their third play-off defeat in a row after losing to Sweden and North Macedonia.
“Everything went badly from the start of the match. The team wasn’t good, players out of form coming in and playing (anyway)… it makes no sense. Honestly, I’m shocked,” said Davide Caldaretta, who watched the game at a city pub.
The Azzurri last qualified for the World Cup finals in 2014, where Bosnia made their only previous appearance at the tournament. The Balkan team will play in Group B this year with co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
National outrage
The defeat sparked outrage across the country, with political parties calling on Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) President Gabriele Gravina to resign.
“It is an unacceptable disgrace. Italian football needs a complete overhaul, starting with the resignation of Gabriele Gravina,” the League Party, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, wrote on Instagram.
Gravina said an assessment of his position would be made at a federal council meeting scheduled to take place next week.
Italy went down to 10 men in the 42nd minute with Alessandro Bastoni punished for a late last-man tackle, a key turning point in the match with Italy leading at the time.
“(We feel) really upset and disappointed. Even when you’re let down you always hold out hope. And this is the third time in a row,” said Melanie Cardillo.
