Manchester City and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has spoken out on his side’s failure to qualify for yet another World Cup following their shock defeat, admitting he was reduced to tears following full-time.
Italy will be absent from a third World Cup in a row this summer after they lost in the play-offs against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who instead booked their spot in North America with a famous victory.
Donnarumma – who clashed with Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj during the shootout – and Co were taken to penalties by their opponents, and it was a disaster with Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali the only Italian player to score, while Donnarumma failed to save any of the hosts’ kicks.
It means Italy are the first former winners to miss out on three consecutive tournaments, and that fact appears to have hit the squad hard – including Donnarumma.
‘Last night, after the match, I cried,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘I cried because of the disappointment of not being able to bring Italy where it deserves to be.
‘I cried because of the enormous sadness I’m feeling, along with the entire Azzurri team, of which I’m proud to be captain, and I know, right now, you, fans of our national team, are feeling too.
Manchester City and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (left) has spoken out following his side’s failure to qualify for a World Cup again
His side lost against Bosnia and Herzegovina after the shot stopped failed to save a spot kick in the penalty shootout
‘Words are of little use now, it’s true. But I feel one thing strongly inside, and I want to share it with you: after such a huge disappointment, we must find the courage to turn the page, once again. And to do so requires a lot of strength, passion, and conviction.
‘Always believe; this is the driving force behind moving forward. Because life knows how to reward those who give their all, without holding back.
‘And this is where we must start again. Together. Once again. To bring Italy back where it deserves to be.’
Donnarumma made his Italy debut at 16, but will now not play in a World Cup until he is at least 31.
Italy have been on a major downward trajectory since beating England on penalties in the final of Euro 2020, in which Donnarumma saved three spot kicks.
Having missed out on qualification for the World Cup in Qatar the year after, they looked to have bounced back at Euro 2024, making it out their group, until they were comfortably beaten by Switzerland in the round of 16.
Since Roberto Mancini left as manager in 2023, they have tried both Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso as managers, but neither have been able to flip their fortunes.
It’s now back to club football for Donnarumma before a summer off, as he returns to City for a title race – but his first game back is an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Saturday.
