Spinazzola: Italy had ‘three or four chances’ to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Haris Tabakovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina scores his team’s equalizing goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Leonardo Spinazzola says that Italy will regret their ‘three or four’ chances they had to win the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup play-off final, and says that he is ‘enormously’ disappointed for the Italian children who will not see Italy feature at the final tournament.

For the third time in a row, Italy will not be at the FIFA World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday evening’s World Cup play-off final in Zenica. 

Moise Kean had given the Azzurri a 15th-minute lead, but a straight red card for centre-back Alessandro Bastoni just before half-time made life considerably more difficult for Gennaro Gattuso’s side. Haris Tabaković netted the equaliser in the 79th minute. 

Though they did well to hold on for penalties, Sandro Tonali was the only Italy player to succeed from the spot. Pio Esposito missed the first, Bryan Cristante hit the crossbar from the third, and with Bosnia scoring all of their first four, that was that for another four years. 

Click here to see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

• Read more: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 Italy (4-1 pens) – Player ratings

Spinazzola reflects on Italy’s World Cup misery

“After 90 minutes down to 10 men, we dragged this to penalties with our teeth, we had three or four chances to win it,” Spinazzola told RAI Sport after full-time. 

“It’s just so enormously disappointing for us, for our families, for all the Italian children who won’t see Italy at a World Cup again.

“It’s so sad to see the young players crying, but they will have a better future.”

Italy felt that Bosnia should have also been reduced to 10 men when Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic slid in for a last-ditch challenge on Marco Palestra in extra-time.

“Incidents decide the game, we knew it would be very difficult when down to 10 men, but we still created several chances,” Spinazzola said. 

“There’s no point talking about that now, there is this enormous disappointment.

“It was certainly my last chance of getting to a World Cup, but I feel bad for all of Italy.”