La Russa blames ‘presumptuous’ Bonucci for Italy elimination | OneFootball

The President of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa, speculates that Italy assistant coach Leonardo Bonucci was behind the ill-advised shootout pecking order in Bosnia.

The Italian national team has now failed to reach the World Cup for the third straight edition after falling short against their Bosnian hosts in Tuesday’s final.

The Azzurri took an early lead thanks to a clinical Moise Kean finish, but their plan faltered in the 40th minute when Alessandro Bastoni was given a straight red card for committing a foul while being the last defender.

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While the visitors tried to withstand the pressure until full-time, a controversial goal from Haris Tebakovic ended their resistance in the 79th minute.

The score remained 1-1 until the end of extra time, so the tie had to be decided by a dramatic penalty shootout.

While the hosts began on the right foot, the Italians sent 20-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito, and this decision quickly misfired, as the Inter striker sent his shot high and wide.

Sandro Tonali scored the next one for the Azzurri, but Bryan Cristante was denied by the woodwork on the third attempt, while the Bosnians were flawless from the spot, and only needed four attempts to book their place in the World Cup.

La Russa believes Leonardo Bonucci was behind Italy’s penalty debacle

Gennaro Gattuso’s men left an entire nation in mourning, as explained by the head of the Italian Senate.

“We’re not going to the World Cup. We cheered, we hoped, and we railed against a couple of questionable refereeing decisions,” said La Russa following the Italian heartbreak (via IlBianconero).

Interestingly, the politician, who is an avid Inter supporter, suspects that Gattuso’s assistant, Bonucci, was the one who encouraged Esposito to shoot first, hinting that such a wild decision aligns with the character of the former Juventus defender.

“We were even surprised that they incredibly sent the youngest player to take the FIRST penalty! Did Gattuso decide it, or perhaps a presumptuous Bonucci?

“But thinking about it carefully, in our hearts we feared it, or rather, we knew it. To repeat our views now—and not just today—would be pointless, if not ungenerous. But there’s a limit to everything.”