Italy failed to qualify for the next World Cup on Tuesday night after being beaten by Bosnia in a penalty shootout in the playoff final, just like in 2018 and 2022. Since their 2006 title, the Azzurri have faced humiliation every four years.
It was an endless nightmare for Italy. Defeated by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a penalty shootout on Tuesday in Zenica in the final of the European playoffs, Italy will miss its third consecutive World Cup finals, having only qualified once, for the 1958 edition in Sweden.
Since the World Cup was created, the Nazionale – with one notable exception – had always managed to secure their spot in the tournament and shine, as evidenced by their four titles in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006, a record only surpassed by Brazil and its five stars.
However, since their 2006 triumph over France, the Azzurri have experienced disappointments, with early eliminations in 2010 and 2014, and now three disastrous qualification campaigns.
Italy’s World Cup history:
– 1930: absent (refused invitation) – 1934: World champions – 1938: World champions – 1950: eliminated in group stage – 1954: eliminated in group stage – 1958: did not qualify – 1962: eliminated in group stage – 1966: eliminated in group stage – 1970: finalist – 1974: eliminated in group stage – 1978: 4th place – 1982: World champions – 1986: Round of 16 – 1990: 3rd place – 1994: finalist – 1998: quarter-finals – 2002: Round of 16 – 2006: World champions – 2010: eliminated in group stage – 2014: eliminated in group stage – 2018: did not qualify – 2022: did not qualify – 2026: did not qualify
