Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso was emotional and apologetic after his side suffered a play-off penalty loss in Bosnia on Tuesday, missing out on a third successive World Cup, but refused to discuss his future.
The Italians, four-time winners and champions in 2006, took an early lead in Zenica but after being reduced to ten men they were withdrawn by Bosnia before Gattuso was let down on penalties.
After defeat in the play-off stages of the last two World Cups, another absence will be difficult to bear for everyone involved in Italian football.
«Today the boys did not deserve such a beating,» Gattuso told RAI with tears in his eyes.
«We still had ten players, we had three decent chances and they hardly caused us any problems. I’m sorry, this is football and I’m proud of my boys.»
«It hurts because we needed it for us, for all of Italy and for our movement. A blow that is difficult to swallow.»
Gattuso and Italy were furious when Tarik Muharemovic’s foul on the edge of the penalty area earned only a yellow card early in extra time, but the manager would not discuss refereeing decisions.
“I don’t want to talk about anything, but today it’s unfair,” he said.
«I have been in the football world for years, sometimes I am happy and today I get a beating. It is difficult to digest, they also surprised me because of the heart they put into it.»
«We’re talking for the umpteenth time that we won’t go to the World Cup. I’m sorry if I didn’t make it, but the boys impressed me today.»
Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti early in the qualifying campaign after the defeat to Norway, was asked about his future.
“Today it is not important to talk about my future, it was important to go to the World Cup,” he replied.
“We keep this performance, but it hurts and I’m sorry.”
The head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, told reporters that he had asked Gattuso to stay on.
“The sentiment is quite clear, especially given the way this result has matured,” he said.
“Allow me to congratulate the boys, they have had incredible growth in recent months, many of you have not appreciated the climate and atmosphere in recent months.
Report | Italy will miss the World Cup for the third time in a row after losing in the play-offs to Bosnia and Herzegovina
«I would like to congratulate Rino Gattuso. He is a great coach, I asked him to stay at the helm with these guys. There is little to say, the coach called them heroic. Then I understand that different evaluations have to be made.»
Gravina himself is under extreme pressure at the helm of Italian football, given his repeated failures.
“For the political part, there is a place where the evaluations can be made, namely the Federal Council,” he said.
“I have already decided to call them up for next week, internal evaluations will take place.
“I understand the dismissal request given the situation, but there is an appropriate place to do the evaluations.”
Published on April 1, 2026
