After the debacle in the World Cup qualification
“Proud of my boys”: Italy coach irritated
April 1, 2026 – 12:35 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Italy once again missed qualifying for a World Cup finals. The coach classifies the debacle.
Italy’s trauma continues: After 2018 and 2022, the southern Europeans will miss their third World Cup finals in a row this year. The four-time world champions lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the decisive playoff game on Tuesday evening. National coach Gennaro Gattuso then struggled for the right words.
“The boys didn’t deserve such a defeat,” said the coach after the game, according to the portal “gianlucadimarzio.com”. Gattuso continued: “We had to fight and were down to ten men. They hit crosses and annoyed us. We’re sorry, that’s football, but I’m proud of my boys.”
The national coach is probably alone in feeling proud after missing the World Cup in Italy for the third time in a row. Contrary to his initial assessment, Gattuso then said: “It’s a shame for us, for our families. Such a defeat is difficult to digest.” He also had a very graphic representation of his personal emotional world ready. “If you were to stab me with something now, nothing would come out because I gave everything,” said the ex-professional.
Meanwhile, the national coach did not want to talk about his future. This topic is “not important” at the moment. In October of last year he made his continued work as Italy coach dependent on participation in the World Cup. “Otherwise I will move far away from Italy,” he explained at the time.
