Italian newspaper La Repubblica revealed that the bonus from the FIGC for qualifying for the World Cup 2026 dominated discussions in the locker room before the crucial play-off final against Bosnia. Instead of excitement or positive tension, restlessness prevailed. A group of Italy national team players began to inquire about a bonus payment should they defeat Bosnia.
The figure discussed was around USD 345,000, to be divided among all 28 summoned players, meaning each would receive over USD 12,000. Gennaro Gattuso's players discussed this with some members of the coaching staff closest to them. "It was an obviously ill-timed and insensitive move," commented La Repubblica.
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Italy national team player Pio Esposito regrets a missed opportunity against Bosnia. *Photo: Reuters*. |
Upon learning the news, Gattuso intervened. The 48-year-old coach bluntly stated that the request was completely ill-timed. He conveyed the message that players must first earn their World Cup ticket on the field, and other matters would be dealt with later. "The sad outcome of Italy's loss to Bosnia in a penalty shootout proved Gattuso was right. But it also revealed the psychological state that some players carried into the match that decided the fate of the nation's football," emphasized the newspaper, founded in 1976.
La Repubblica also depicted the aftermath of the defeat to Bosnia. Despite contractual commitments with the television rights holder, the Italy national team was required to send three players for interviews with Rai TV – one on the field and two in the tunnel area. However, only Leonardo Spinazzola and then Gattuso were brave enough to face the cameras; no one else appeared.
Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma experienced conflicting emotions. At the final whistle, he was furious. But despair consumed him in the hours that followed. Those close to him described the 27-year-old goalkeeper as completely shattered by Italy's renewed absence from the World Cup. Most of the remaining players simply remained silent.
In the Italy locker room, before dispersing to board the bus, silence reigned. Many members understood that this was their last chance to experience the World Cup atmosphere. "The general feeling was that this squad seemed to have gradually accepted not participating in the World Cup as normal, nothing too shocking, because this had happened before," wrote the Rome-based newspaper, recalling two important details.
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Three days after the Italy national team's defeat, coach Gattuso also resigned. *Photo: Reuters*. |
Before parting ways, the Italy national team members made a final gesture: they met Gattuso and hoped he would continue to steer the rudderless ship. However, the former AC Milan midfielder explained that he could not.
On 3/4, he officially submitted his resignation, after FIGC President Gabriele Gravina and national team manager Gianluigi Buffon had successively stepped down. "Subsequently, amidst a wave of demands for a complete overhaul of the Federation's leadership, the Italy national team players quietly returned to their clubs. They left without a bonus, and most importantly, without a World Cup," La Repubblica concluded.
Hoang Thong (according to La Repubblica)
