Ten-man Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after losing their play-off on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali was the only Italian player to score from the spot as Bosnia and Herzegovina found the net with all four of their penalties after taking advantage of Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half sending off.
The four-time winners failed to hold on to their 1-0 lead after Moise Kean’s scored 15 minutes in with substitute Haris Tabakovic equalising late in the first half to take the game to extra-time.
Italy substitutes Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed in the shoot-out as Bosnia and Herzegovina sealed their place at the World Cup for just the second time. They will be in Group B with co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Italy’s defeat ensures their World Cup absence will stretch to at least 16 years, their last knockout match at the tournament coming against France in the 2006 final that they won on penalties.
The Azzuri have failed to progress from the group stages in their last two apperances and have since not even qualified.
The only other World Cup that Italy did not qualify for was in 1958.
Gyokeres’ late winner sends Potter’s Sweden to World Cup
Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after his goal seals Sweden’s place at the World Cup
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres scored an 88th-minute winner to send Graham Potter’s Sweden to the World Cup by sealing a 3-2 play-off win over Poland.
Sweden, who missed out on the last edition of the tournament in Qatar, were twice pegged back by Poland after taking the lead through Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga and former Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke.
But Gyokeres stepped up to score the crucial goal two minutes from time to seal his nation’s place at the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, the 37-year-old Poland captain, who could not get on the scoresheet, misses out on what would have likely been his final World Cup.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Turkey secured their place at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Kosovo while Czech Republic reached the tournament by beating Denmark on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
