Gennaro Gattuso

Italy will not be at a third consecutive World Cup after crashing in Tuesday’s (March 31, 2026) frenzied qualification play-off final to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Azzurri fumbling their opportunity of moving on to this summer’s tournament in North America with a miserable 4-1 penalty shoot-out loss. The Bosnians secured a place in Group B, and matches against co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, by winning the shootout when Esmir Bajraktarevic delivered the decisive spot-kick in Zenica that sent Italy withering toward yet another

MILAN: Outspoken Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso regretted on Monday having been unable to defend himself amid an online campaign by some Tottenham Hotspur fans accusing him of being homophobic and racist. The 2006 World Cup winner had looked set to succeed Jose Mourinho as manager of the Premier League side before the accusations. "I had to accept a story that hurt me more than any defeat or suspension," Gattuso told Il Messaggero. "My regret is that I did not have the opportunity to