Italy Fails to Qualify for Third Consecutive World Cup After Penalty Shootout Loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina

ROME. Four-time World Cup winners Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time after a stunning penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Having missed the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments, Italy becomes the first former champion in World Cup history to miss three successive editions.Despite being reduced to 10 men, coach Gennaro Gattuso's side managed to hold off Bosnia's relentless attacks to force the game into penalties. However, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot-kicks.Led by 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, Bosnia-Herzegovina has qualified for the World Cup for the second time in their...