‘The World Cup curse,’ Italy in tears after missing out for third straight time

ROME, April 1 (Reuters) – Italy woke up angry and disillusioned on Wednesday after the national team missed out on the World Cup for the third ​time in a row after a playoff defeat to Bosnia, prolonging a ‌sporting nightmare for the soccer-mad country.

“The World Cup curse,” said the front page of Italy’s main daily Corriere della Sera, calling for a rebuilding of a movement that produced some ​of the game’s greatest players but has won just one match ​at the finals since lifting the trophy in 2006.

Headlines on La ⁠Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, the country’s two main sports ​newspapers, both said “We’re all staying at home,” in reference to yet another summer ​without a World Cup for the four-time champions.

Fans in Rome were left stunned after Italy fell to a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia on Tuesday following a 1-1 ​draw, the third playoff defeat in a row after those against Sweden ​and North Macedonia.

“Everything went badly from the start of the match. The team wasn’t good, ‌players ⁠out of form coming in and playing (anyway)… it makes no sense. Honestly, I’m shocked,” said Davide Caldaretta, who watched the game at a city pub.

The ‘Azzurri’, as the team is known, last qualified for the World Cup finals in 2014, which ​coincided with Bosnia’s only ​previous appearance at ⁠the tournament. The Balkan team will now play in Group B joining co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

“Either something is ​wrong with the youth system or it doesn’t make ​sense,” said ⁠fan Edoardo Settembre.

Italy went down to 10 men in the 42nd minute with Alessandro Bastoni punished for a late last-man tackle, a key turning point with Italy ⁠leading ​at the time.

“(We feel) really upset and disappointed. ​Even when you’re let down you always hold out hope. And this is the third time ​in a row,” said Melanie Cardillo.