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The story will be of another Italian apocalypse, yet another infamous occasion for a nation that has won four men’s World Cups but is starting to believe it might never go to another after missing out for the third time in a row. After a North Macedonian bolt from the blue in 2022, and a stultifying two-legged defeat to Sweden five years before that they found a new way to come up short in 2026 – eliminated on penalties in their playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But this night should also be remembered for an electric performance by the hosts, who richly deserve the place they have claimed at this summer’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Despite falling behind early to a Moise Kean goal, Sergej Barbarez’s side kept their heads, kept attacking and ultimately played the Italians off the park. The only area in which they came up short was scoring the goals their performance deserved. They put that right in the shootout, converting four out of four.

There had been more than enough chances to win this game inside 90 minutes. Even before Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for Italy on the cusp of half-time, Bosnia and Herzegovina led the shot count by 11 to two. It took them until the 79th to find an equaliser through Haris Tabaković, but that was enough. They battled through a cagy extra-time period and won on penalties for the second time in five days.

It was hardly a nerveless start from Italy. As early as the third minute, a scramble on the edge of their penalty area concluded with Amar Memic crossing from the left. His low centre skirted the six-yard box before Riccardo Calafiori hacked it on to Manuel Locatelli and behind for a corner.

Ermedin Demirovic tried his luck from outside the box, driving at Italy’s defence before firing in a shot that hopped in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Players from both sides had been asked in the buildup about a supposedly treacherous pitch at the Stadion Bilino Polje, but it would not make itself the main character here.

What Italy lacked in control, they made up for in ruthlessness. Mateo Retegui’s pursuit of a Bosnian backpass caused the goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to panic and deliver the ball straight to another Italian, Nicolò Barella. He found Moise Kean, surging through the middle, who sent a magnificent first-time finish into the top-right corner.

Yet another essential contribution from the Fiorentina striker, after his strike in the semi-final against Northern Ireland. He has scored in six consecutive games for Italy.

Bosnia responded. Their manager, Sergej Barbarez, joked before kick-off that if his team scored first they might have to park the bus, but “if we take one, we might have to put it elsewhere.” They were using it now to chase their guests all over the pitch now, creating one opportunity with a simple willingness to get on the ball and dribble.

Memic crashed a shot over the bar, then sent a header the same way. Ermedin Demirovic nodded just wide from a wonderful Esmir Bajraktarevic cross with Donnarumma stranded.

Italy looked like a team itching to hear the half-time whistle, even before Alessandro Bastoni obliged the referee, Clément Turpin, into a different kind of intervention. Falling behind Memic on the Croatian left, the Inter defender chopped him down cynically and could have no realistic complaint about his red card for denying a scoring opportunity.

Gattuso responded to the dismissal by withdrawing a centre-forward and sending in a replacement defender, Federico Gatti. But the half ended in a flurry of Croatian chances. Nikola Katic had a header smothered by Donnarumma and Memic sent another narrowly off target.

Italy made another change during the interval, replacing Mateo Politano at right-back with the 21-year-old Marco Palestra. A second appearance for the Cagliari defender, who made his debut against Northern Ireland. His pace might have been perceived as an asset against Croatia’s array of runners – which had been bolstered further by their own introduction of the 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic.

Palestra was on the wrong side of the pitch to help, though, as Memic accelerated down the opposite flank deliver another inviting cross within moments of the restart. Demirovic was inches away with his diving header.

Kean might have sealed victory for Italy in the 60th minute. Reading Memic’s intentions on a cross-field pass, he intercepted and raced beyond the hosts’ centre-backs. With Vasilj advancing, he took his shot on early and fired high of the target.

How Italy rued that missed opportunity, as Tabaković struck to level this final.

Extra-time was played at a more cautious pace. Perhaps the hosts were feeling the fatigue from their 120 minutes played against Wales. Italy appealed for their opponents to be reduced to 10 when Tarik Muharemovic brought down Palestra, haring after a Sandro Tonali pass through the middle, but the defender got a yellow instead. Dzeko ended the game receiving treatment for a shoulder injury.

If Bosnia and Herzegovina were no longer terrorising Italy as they had before, the visitors still looked the more relieved side to reach penalty kicks. But Francesco Pio Esposito smashed their first attempt over the crossbar, and Bryan Cristante smacked his penalty against it. As the hosts celebrated, Italy stayed trapped in their own private hell, the only World Cup winners not to qualify for this year’s edition. It hardly even feels like a surprise any more.