Italy Misses World Cup Third Time
Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup again. They lost on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup qualifier.
This is Italy's third World Cup absence in a row. Italy won the World Cup in 2006 but has missed the last three. Italy is the first World Cup champion to miss three straight tournaments.
Klear Note — The World Cup is soccer's biggest event, held every four years. Italy won in 2006 but has now missed three straight tournaments—a rare failure for a former champion.