Italy’s Gennaro Gattuso couldn’t hold back his tears after his team lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the European World Cup 2026 playoffs on Tuesday night. Despite the disappointment, Gattuso praised his players for their efforts and expressed his pride in them.
Gattuso acknowledged the pain of missing out on the World Cup and emphasized the importance of the qualification for Italy, their families, and Italian football. He did not dwell on the controversial refereeing decisions during the match, stating that both joy and pain are part of football.
Having been in charge since June 2025, Gattuso, 48, did not comment on his future plans after failing to secure Italy’s spot in the World Cup. He expressed his apologies for not achieving the goal but commended his players for their performance. Gattuso concluded by saying that discussing his future was not important, as the primary focus was on qualifying for the World Cup.
