Italy misses 3rd straight World Cup after shootout loss to Bosnia

Italy's unthinkable World Cup nightmare continues.

The Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive cycle, losing Tuesday's playoff final 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The match in Zenica finished tied at one apiece after 120 minutes.

Italy, looking to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2014, took a first-half lead through Moise Kean's precise strike.

But Gennaro Gattuso's team, playing with 10 men after a 41st-minute red card to Alessandro Bastoni, couldn't hold out in the second half, conceding a scrappy equalizer to substitute Haris Tabakovic in the 79th minute.

Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante then missed their penalties in the shootout, and Bosnia converted all four of its spot-kicks to return to the tournament.

Bosnia will now slot into Group B at this summer's event alongside co-host Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.

Italy, meanwhile, will have to try and rebuild yet again following another stunning - and humiliating - failure.