Captain Donnarumma vows to restore Italy after heartbreakImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Italy also failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022ByBobbie Jackson, BBC Sport Journalist and Lorraine McKenna, BBC Sport JournalistPublished3 minutes agoGianluigi Donnarumma says he “cried because of the enormous sadness” of not being able to lead Italy to the 2026 World Cup this summer, following their penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina.Italy have now failed to qualify for three successive World Cups, drawing 1-1 on Tuesday before losing their play-off final 4-1 on penalties, having lost Alessandro Bastoni to a first-half red card.
Goalkeeper Donnarumma, 27, made numerous saves in the second half but during the shootout appeared to get into an argument with Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, with reports claiming the Italian captain damaged Vasilj’s penalty-takers cheat sheet.
He also had to be held back by his team-mates at full-time after trying to confront the celebrating Bosnia players.
“Last night, after the match, I cried. I cried because of the disappointment of not being able to lead Italy where it deserves to be,” Donnarumma wrote on Instagram., external
