Rome, April 1: Italy woke up angry and disillusioned on Wednesday after its national soccer team missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row. The team lost a penalty shootout to Bosnia following a 1-1 draw, continuing a painful streak for the soccer-mad nation.
Headlines across Italy's sports newspapers lamented the loss, with calls for rebuilding and introspection. Fans were stunned by the defeat, which came after Italy went down to 10 men during the match. Political parties have called for the resignation of FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, citing the need for a complete overhaul of Italian football.
The Azzurri last qualified for the World Cup in 2014. This year, Bosnia will compete in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
The repeated failures have left many questioning the future of Italian soccer, as the country that produced some of the game's greatest players struggles to maintain its competitive edge on the global stage.