US Edition‘The World Cup Curse’: Outcry as Italy Miss Out for Third Time in a Row
Andrea Abodi called for leadership changes at the Italian Football Federation after the Azzurri missed their third straight World Cup, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Italy missed the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time after suffering a 4-1 penalty shootout loss to Bosnia following a 1-1 draw. The Azzurri finished with 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni received a red card in the 42nd minute.
- This defeat marks Italy's third consecutive playoff failure, following losses to Sweden and North Macedonia. The national team last qualified for the tournament finals in 2014, struggling to rebuild since winning the trophy for the fourth time in 2006.
- Sport Minister Andrea Abodi demanded the resignation of Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina, calling the failure a sign that Italian football requires complete rebuilding from the top. Gravina refused to step down but faced immediate institutional conflict.
- Athletes, including speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, criticized Gravina for labeling other sports "amateur" and "state sports," while former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi called the elimination "unfortunately" not an "April Fool's joke." Public anger intensified across Italy.
- A board meeting next week will decide whether Gravina retains his position amid widespread calls for change. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean nation celebrates success in other disciplines, including tennis star Jannik Sinner's four Grand Slam wins and record-breaking Olympic medal hauls.
23 Articles
23 Articles
It fell as a heavy lump fell from a tenth floor, crashed to the ground and made a dry noise. It’s Italy, a football corpse. It’s back out of a World Cup. For the third time in a row...! And in the last two that it was eliminated in the first round, in 2010 for losing to Slovakia, and in 2014 for falling to Costa Rica. The quadruple world champion...! Never fit the word once so well.
Hours after staying for the third time in a row without playing the World Cup, Italy aspires to a total ‘calcium’ revolution between disappointments and emergencies.
So now Bosnia. For the third time in a row Italy fails in the qualifying for a world championship. The big football nation is on the ground - what consequences are there?
So SportNow Bosnia-Herzegovina. For the third time in a row Italy fails in the qualifying for a world championship. The big football nation is on the ground - what consequences are there?
ANSA - by Riccardo Rimondi. He celebrates Bosnia, Gravina and the summits under trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices (ANSA)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
