ITALY failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row after Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card proved costly in a dramatic 4-1 penalty shoot-out defeat away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.Azzurri substitutes Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed from 12 yards in Zenica, allowing Esmir Bajraktarevic to convert the hosts’ winning spot-kick following a 1-1 draw after extra time.Having failed to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, four-time champions Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.

ITALY failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row after Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card proved costly in a dramatic 4-1 penalty shoot-out defeat away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Azzurri substitutes Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed from 12 yards in Zenica, allowing Esmir Bajraktarevic to convert the hosts’ winning spot-kick following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Having failed to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, four-time champions Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.

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