Italy's coach bursts into tears and apologizes.

"We will not be going to the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Personally, I apologize for not fulfilling the mission. This is very painful, it's hard to accept," coach Gennaro Gattuso said in tears after Italy's defeat to Bosnia in the 2026 World Cup play-off final on the morning of April 1st.

The coach, born in 1978, appeared on television with red eyes and a choked voice. He did not shy away from responsibility, while affirming that he was still proud of his players. “The players didn’t deserve this result. We were down to 10 men but still created chances,” Gattuso shared.

At the Zenica stadium, Italy got off to a decent start. Kean opened the scoring in the 15th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage. However, the turning point came in the 41st minute when Bastoni received a direct red card after fouling Memic as the opponent broke through.

Playing with ten men made things difficult for Italy for the remainder of the match. However, Gattuso's team still managed to hold their ground and maintain control of the game. The two teams were unable to determine a winner in regular time, forcing a penalty shootout.

Here, Italy lacked the necessary precision. Missed shots from Pio Esposito and Cristante cost the Azzurri dearly. Bosnia capitalized better to secure the victory and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Coach Gennaro Gattuso was unable to help Italy qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

In the press conference, Gattuso continued to emphasize the team's fighting spirit. He refused to comment on external factors. "I don't want to talk about the referee or anything else. The players fought like they were in the trenches. Their dedication is what makes me most proud," he asserted.

The Italian coach admitted this was a huge shock for Italian football. “We needed this victory for ourselves, for the country, and for the entire football system. This is a very heavy blow,” Gattuso said.

The defeat against Bosnia has pushed Italy into a harsh reality. This is the third consecutive time the team has missed the World Cup, after the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. A team that has won the world championship four times continues to sink deeper into crisis.

The last time Italy participated in the World Cup was in 2014. On that occasion, they were eliminated in the group stage. Since their victory in 2006, the Azzurri have not returned to the knockout rounds of the world's biggest tournament.

A nearly two-decade-long gap meant that generations of fans had yet to see Italy at the World Cup. After their latest defeat, the feeling of disappointment became even more pronounced.

Italian social media exploded after the match. Many fans expressed disappointment and anger. Memes and negative comments flooded the internet, reflecting the general mood of the supporters.

Another sad night has ended for Italian football. And the future of the national team remains a big question mark.