Italy miss out on third straight WC in shootout loss to Bosnia - ESPN

Four-time champions Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after losing to host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in its playoff final Tuesday in Zenica.

With the loss, Italy becomes the first former champions to miss out on three straight World Cups, with none of the team's current players ever having participated.

Moise Kean scored early for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute.

The match then went to extra time with the score 1-1 and Italy down to 10 players, but neither team scored in the 30 added minutes. In the shootout, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot kicks and U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive penalty for Bosnia.

«We still don't believe it — that we're out and that it happened in this manner,» Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola said. «It's upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.»

The defeat added more misery for Italy's once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the past two World Cups and last won a knockout round game in 2006 over France in the final.

In last week's European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0. Bosnia eliminated Wales in a penalty shootout.

In Tuesday's other European playoff finals, Sweden and Türkiye each qualified. Sweden beat Poland 3-2 and Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0. Czechia also qualified after beating Denmark in a shootout.

The latest ouster for Italy means that the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 champions will go at least 16 years without