Gattuso apologises after Italy miss out on another World Cup

ZENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina, March 31 : Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso was emotional and apologetic after his side suffered a playoff penalty shootout loss in Bosnia on Tuesday, to miss out on their third successive World Cup, but he refused to talk about his future.

The Italians, four-time winners and champions as recently as 2006, took an early lead in Zenica, but after going down to 10 men, they were hauled back by Bosnia before penalties sent Gattuso's side packing.

After suffering defeat at the playoff stage for the last two World Cups, another absence will be hard to take for all involved in Italian football.

"Today the boys didn't deserve a beating like this," a teary-eyed Gattuso told RAI.

"We were left with 10 players, we had three decent chances and they barely troubled us. I'm sorry, this is football and I'm proud of my boys.

"It hurts, because we needed it for us, for all of Italy and for our movement. A blow that's difficult to digest."

Gattuso and Italy were incensed when a foul by Tarik Muharemovic on the edge of the area brought just a yellow card early in extra time, but the manager did not want to talk about refereeing decisions.

"I don't want to talk about anything, but today it's unfair," he said.

"I have been in the world of football for years, sometimes I have rejoiced and today I take a beating. It's hard to digest, they surprised me too for the heart they put into it.

"We're talking for the umpteenth time that we don't go to the World Cup. I apologise if I didn't make it, but the boys impressed me today."

'MY FUTURE IS NOT IMPORTANT'

Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti early in the qualification campaign after defeat to Norway, was asked about his future.

"Today talking about my future is not important, it