Sports
Italy miss out on third straight WC in shootout loss to Bosnia
Four-time champions Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup after losing to host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in its playoff final Tuesday in Zenica.
With the loss, Italy becomes the first former champions to miss out on three straight World Cups, with none of the team’s current players ever having participated.
Moise Kean scored early for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th minute.
The match then went to extra time with the score 1-1 and Italy down to 10 players, but neither team scored in the 30 added minutes. In the shootout, Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot kicks and U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive penalty for Bosnia.
“We still don’t believe it — that we’re out and that it happened in this manner,” Italy defender Leonardo Spinazzola said. “It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families, and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”
The defeat added more misery for Italy’s once-proud national team after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the past two World Cups and last won a knockout round game in 2006 over France in the final.
In last week’s European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0. Bosnia eliminated Wales in a penalty shootout.
In Tuesday’s other European playoff finals, Sweden and Türkiye each qualified. Sweden beat Poland 3-2 and Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0. Czechia also qualified after beating Denmark in a shootout.
The latest ouster for Italy means that the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 champions will go at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer’s biggest event.
Italy’s World Cup struggles date to 2010 and 2014, having failed to advance from its group on both occasions. Italy did win the European Championship in 2021.
The only other World Cup that Italy did not qualify for was in 1958.
Bosnia will play at a second World Cup following their debut in 2014, and will be in Group B at this summer’s tournament alongside co-host Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Italy’s defeat will raise questions about the status of coach Gennaro Gattuso, who took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.
Despite the win over Northern Ireland in Bergamo, Italy struggled against Bosnia inside the intimate but imposing 14,000-seat Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, which is surrounded by apartment towers overlooking the field.
“I want to personally apologize since we didn’t make it,” Gattuso said. “Today talking about my future is not important. Today it was important to get to the World Cup.”
On paper, it was a massive mismatch between 12th-ranked Italy and Bosnia, which is ranked 54 places below by FIFA.
Italy has a population of nearly 60 million. Bosnia’s is about 3.5 million.
Bajraktarević, who had the winning penalty, was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. He made his U.S. debut in a January 2024 friendly against Slovenia and then switched affiliation that August.
In Tuesday’s other pivotal games, Viktor Gyökeres scored in the 88th minute to earn the Swedes a 3-2 win over Poland, five days after netting a hat trick in the playoff semifinal victory over Ukraine.
Poland great Robert Lewandowski, 37, was hoping to qualify for what probably would have been his final World Cup.
Former Chelsea and West Ham coach Graham Potter was hired by Sweden last year — initially on a short-term deal — with one goal: to get the team to the World Cup. He succeeded.
Sweden reached the quarterfinals in its last World Cup appearance in 2018.
Türkiye will be in the United States‘ group at the World Cup after winning 1-0 at Kosovo to reach soccer’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002.
Kosovo were hoping to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, fewer than 10 years since the national team was out of the international soccer family.
It was in May 2016 that Kosovo and Gibraltar were voted into FIFA as its 210th and 211th member federations. That was eight years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
Kosovo had the best chance of an entertaining first half, but Türkiye goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır pulled off a superb one-handed save to push Fisnik Asllani‘s strike onto the crossbar.
Türkiye got the breakthrough eight minutes into the second half. Kerem Aktürkoğlu got the finest of touches to ensure Orkun Kökçü‘s cross-shot went into the far bottom corner.
Türkiye joins the U.S. in Group D, along with Paraguay and Australia.
Czechia reached its first World Cup since 2006 with a penalty shootout victory over Denmark following a 2-2 draw.
Michal Sadílek converted the winning spot kick in the 3-1 penalty shootout win. It was Czechia’s second straight victory on penalties after also prevailing on spot kicks against Ireland in the semifinal.
Czechia will face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was used in this report.
CHICAGO — Wrigley Field will host a women’s college volleyball doubleheader to highlight the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week in September.
The conferences announced Monday that Nebraska will play Missouri and Penn State will meet Kentucky at the home of the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 6. Matchups between Big Ten and SEC programs will be played at home sites beginning Sept. 1.
“Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week culminating at Wrigley Field brings together the highest level of women’s volleyball competition, at one of the most iconic venues in the country,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said. “As women’s volleyball participation, sponsorship, attendance and viewership continue to grow, we look forward to providing this unique opportunity to showcase the exceptional competition.”
The matches will mark the first time volleyball has been played at Wrigley Field. Both outdoor matches will be broadcast live on Fox.
“Bringing the SEC and Big Ten together for a championship-caliber volleyball showcase, culminating at an iconic venue like Wrigley Field, reflects the extraordinary momentum of the sport,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “This initiative not only elevates volleyball on a national stage but also underscores a continued growth and investment in women’s athletics.”
Penn State has won eight national championships, most recently in 2024. Nebraska has won five titles, with the most recent in 2017. Kentucky won the 2020 championship and was runner-up to Texas A&M last season.
Nebraska hosted a women’s volleyball doubleheader at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Aug. 30, 2023, and attendance of 92,003 was the largest ever documented for a women’s sporting event in the world.
Romelu Lukaku is facing potential disciplinary action at Napoli after failing to return to training.
The striker pulled out of the Belgium squad for friendlies against the United States and Mexico in North America but headed back to his home country for treatment.
Lukaku has made only seven appearances this season, all of them as a substitute, after missing the first part of the campaign with a serious hamstring injury.
A Napoli statement on Tuesday afternoon read: “SSC Napoli can confirm that Romelu Lukaku did not respond to today’s call to return to training.
“The club reserves the right to consider taking the appropriate disciplinary action, as well as to determine whether the player will continue to train with the team for an indefinite period.”
Lukaku explained his decision to travel to Belgium in an Instagram post on Monday.
The 32-year-old former Chelsea and Manchester United forward, who joined Napoli in 2024, wrote: “The truth is the last few weeks I wasn’t feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium and it showed that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle next to my scar tissue.
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“Since it is the second problem I had since coming back early November, I chose to do the rehab in Belgium.”
Lukaku insisted his future remains in Italy, adding: “I could never turn my back on Napoli, never. There’s nothing more I would love to do than play and win [for] my team.
“But right now I have to make sure I’m 100% physically cause I haven’t been recently and it took a toll mentally.”
Napoli sit third in the Serie A table, seven points behind leaders Inter Milan.
There was a big shakeup in this week’s top ten with Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and UCLA all shuffling places. The Crimson Tide received a first-place vote in advance of their series against the team that received the most first-place votes, Texas. This will be an interesting week, with multiple ranked matchups in the SEC to go along with two in the ACC.
Player to watch
Alabama P Jocelyn Briski
Briski is a stunning 13-0 on the season with 113 strikeouts. Against Arkansas in mid March, she pitched two complete games with a combined 24 strikeouts. She’ll be a key factor in the Crimson Tide’s upcoming matchup against Texas.
Top moment
DAKOTA KENNEDY WALKS IT OFF FOR THE SERIES WIN 🤩#NCAASoftball x 🎥 SECN+ / @RazorbackSB
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) March 29, 2026
In a matchup between two top-ten teams, Arkansas outfielder Dakota Kennedy left her mark. The senior’s three-run walk-off home run against Florida helped the Razorbacks to a 2-1 series upset.
Series to watch
No. 1 Texas at No. 5 Alabama
Thursday at 7 p.m., SEC Network+
Friday at 8:30 p.m., SEC Network
Saturday at 6 p.m., ESPN
Both of these top-ten programs have just two losses on the season, and Texas is coming off a tough one against rival Texas A&M. Can Alabama put the Longhorns on their first losing streak of the season? Or will Texas regain its footing?
How to watch
Everything college softball on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big 12 Now on ESPN+, ESPN3, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX is accessible here, in addition to being available on the ESPN App.
What’s the full schedule?
You can check out the complete scoreboard here to stay up to date this spring.
Subscribe to ESPN | Stream college softball on ESPN
Week 8 Top 25
Here is the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ranking, plus each team’s record and next game.
All times Eastern.
1. Texas
Previous rank: 1
Record: 31-2
Next game: Thursday at Alabama, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
2. Texas Tech
Previous rank: 2
Record: 34-2
Next game: Tuesday at Abilene Christian, 6 p.m., ESPN+
3. Oklahoma
Previous rank: 3
Record: 34-3
Next game: Tuesday vs. Wichita State, 6 p.m., SEC Network
4. Nebraska
Previous rank: 6
Record: 26-6
Next game: Tuesday at Creighton, 6 p.m., ESPN+
5. Alabama
Previous rank: 7
Record: 33-2
Next game: Thursday vs. Texas, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
6. Arkansas
Previous rank: 9
Record: 30-5
Next game: Saturday vs. Auburn, 5 p.m., SEC Network+
7. Florida
Previous rank: 5
Record: 33-4
Next game: Wednesday at Stetson, 6 p.m., ESPN+
8. Tennessee
Previous rank: 4
Record: 30-5
Next game: Thursday vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
9. UCLA
Previous rank: 8
Record: 29-5
Next game: Thursday vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m., Big Ten Plus
10. Florida State
Previous rank: 10
Record: 32-4
Next game: Thursday vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m., ACC Extra
11. Georgia
Previous rank: 11
Record: 27-8
Next game: Thursday at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
12. Virginia Tech
Previous rank: 12
Record: 31-4
Next game: Wednesday vs. Clemson, 6 p.m., ACC Extra
13. Arizona
Previous rank: 13
Record: 27-8
Next game: Thursday at Iowa State, 5 p.m., ESPN+
14. Washington
Previous rank: 16
Record: 30-6
Next game: Thursday at Saint Mary’s, 5 p.m.
15. Texas A&M
Previous rank: 15
Record: 24-11
Next game: Thursday vs. Georgia, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
16. Mississippi State
Previous rank: 14
Record: 32-7
Next game: Friday at Florida, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
17. Virginia
Previous rank: 18
Record: 31-3
Next game: Thursday at Duke, 6 p.m., ACC Extra
18. Oregon
Previous rank: 17
Record: 26-9
Next game: Friday vs. Iowa, 9 p.m.
19. Duke
Previous rank: 19
Record: 24-11
Next game: Tuesday vs. Campbell, 5 p.m., ACC Extra
20. LSU
Previous rank: 20
Record: 23-12
Next game: Thursday at Missouri, 7 p.m., SEC Network+
21. Oklahoma State
Previous rank: 21
Record: 25-10
Next game: April 8 at Wichita State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
22. Grand Canyon
Previous rank: 23
Record: 36-2
Next game: Thursday vs. Nevada, 10 p.m.
23. Arizona State
Previous rank: 25
Record: 28-9
Next game: Thursday at Kansas, 6 p.m., ESPN+
24. Stanford
Previous rank: 22
Record: 20-10
Next game: Wednesday vs. Washington, 8 p.m., ACC Extra
25. UCF
Previous rank: NR
Record: 28-10
Next game: Thursday vs. Utah, 6 p.m., ESPN+
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