Gennaro Gattuso had tears in his eyes after Italy missed the third consecutive FIFA World Cup, apologized
A teary-eyed Gennaro Gattuso apologized to the country after the Italy national football team failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time after a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
The playoff encounter at the Stadion Bilino Polje ended in tragedy for the four-time champions, which lost 4–1 on penalties A tightly contested match finished level at the end of extra time. Italy took an early lead, but were reduced to 10 players before half-time, a setback that shifted the situation in Bosnia’s favour.
Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute when Haris Tabakovic rose above the Italian defense and fired past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Despite creating chances and holding firm for large parts of the game, Italy could not find a winner and the match eventually went to penalties.
Misses from Francesco Esposito and Brian Cristante proved costly as Bosnia scored confidently to seal their place, leaving Italy stunned and eliminated.
Gattuso apologized after his exit
Speaking after the match, Gattuso expressed his disappointment and apologized to the supporters, insisting that the result was difficult to accept given his team’s performance.
“I don’t want to talk about anything else right now,” he said. “It’s inappropriate today. We wanted to go to the World Cup and that was the most important thing. I’m sorry.”
Gattuso defended his players, saying they had competed well despite being down 10 players and limited Bosnia’s chances for most of the match.
“The boys didn’t deserve it. We had chances and they didn’t trouble us too much. But that’s football. It’s a blow that’s very difficult to swallow,” he said.
FIGC supports Gattuso and Buffon
Despite the historic setback, the Italian Football Federation has given its support to Gattuso. Federation president Gabriele Gravina confirmed that both the head coach and Gianluigi Buffon, who now holds a managerial role within the setup, have been asked to continue.
Gravina said, “I have asked him to stay and have asked Buffon to remain in charge of the football team.”
Italy’s failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups is an unprecedented collapse for one of football’s most decorated nations. The Azzurri last appeared in the tournament in 2014 in Brazil, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Their last win came in 2006, when they defeated France on penalties under Zinedine Zidane. However, since then, Italian football has struggled to maintain its traditional dominance on the global stage, with this latest setback raising further questions about the future direction of the national team.
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Speaking in Persian and translated into Urdu by local scholar Qamar Hasnain, Elahi said Khamenei’s relationship with India was not symbolic but deeply personal and intellectual.He recalled how the supreme leader closely followed Indian scholarship, read books by Indian authors and remained aware of the country’s intellectual traditions. Elahi underlined the depth of that engagement, saying, “He knew Indian scholars by name and often referred to their work.”Elahi admitted that for years he had wondered why Khamenei was so affectionate towards India. He said, the answer to that question came only after the death of the leader. Pausing as there was silence in the Imambara, he told the gathering, “Now I understand why he loved India so much.”He pointed to the widespread mourning seen across the country, cutting across religious lines. “I have seen it with my own eyes,” Elahi said. “Shia, Sunni, Hindu, Sikh, Christian. The suffering was not limited to one community. People from all backgrounds expressed grief, shed tears and showed their love.” This shared emotional response revealed the genuine bond between Khamenei and India, he said.Describing India as a land of justice, spirituality and humanity, Elahi said it is natural for the people here to feel connected to a leader who stands for respect and moral values. His comments evoked clear emotion in the audience, with many attendees crying quietly and others nodding in agreement.After focusing on Khamenei’s relationship with India, Elahi turned to other aspects of his life, portraying him as a leader who combined power with simplicity. He said that despite holding the highest office in Iran for decades, Khamenei never owned a private house. Even his family, including his four sons, continued to live in a rented house. This claim brought murmurs of surprise and admiration in the gathering.Elahi presented this as a reflection of his character, saying, “He had power, influence and position, yet he chose a life detached from material wealth.”Narrating a shocking anecdote, Elahi said that when Khamenei was warned about threats to his life and advised to move to a safe bunker with his family, the leader refused. Instead, he asked how protection could be ensured for the millions of ordinary Iranians, especially the poor, who had no shelter. “How can I protect myself when my people remain unsafe?” Ilahi quoted him as saying, calling it a reflection of his deep sense of responsibility.He described Khamenei’s spiritual discipline, saying that he would rise several hours before dawn for prayers and remain calm even during crises. Elahi also drew parallels between Khamenei and Imam Hussein, saying both were symbols of sacrifice, patience and unwavering resolve.As soon as the speech ended, the atmosphere inside Chhota Imambara was filled with emotions.
