Gattuso refuses to speak on Italy future after missing out on WC qualification

Gennaro Gattuso refused to speak on his future as Italy head coach, after they failed to reach the World Cup finals.

The Azzurri lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in their play-off final, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missing their spot-kicks during a 4-1 defeat in the shootout.

It finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, though Bosnia were on top for the majority of the match after Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card in the first half.

Bastoni was the first Italy player to receive a red card in a World Cup qualifier since Giorgio Chiellini against Israel in September 2016.

The four-time World Cup winners are the first former champions to fail to qualify for three consecutive editions of FIFA's flagship tournament. 

Gattuso previously joked that he would go into hiding if Italy did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup, though he was not willing to discuss his future after the defeat to Bosnia.

"I don't think this is the time to talk about my future or anyone else's," he told Sky Sport Italia. "This is football: sometimes, it makes you celebrate. Sometimes, it makes you suffer.

"These lads didn't deserve this, for the effort, the love, the determination. We had three chances, and most of their crosses were barely tickling us.

"I am still proud of my lads. If you poke me with a dagger today, nothing will come out, my blood is all gone. It was important for the Italian football movement, and it feels bad to go out like this.

"It hurts, it really hurts, but we must accept it. I don't want to talk about referees or anything else. We could've scored a second goal and didn't. We suffered with all those crosses, we gave everything.

"I am proud of them, it hurts to accept this verdict. It will take time. On a personal level, it's a heavy blow."