Gianluigi Donnarumma is being slammed for using a 'dirty' penalty shootout tactic that failed during Italy's World Cup play-off final defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night. The Azzurri took the lead inside 15 minutes through Moise Kean, putting themselves on course for a first World Cup appearance in 12 years.
But, as has often been the case in recent years, everything began to unravel after Alessandro Bastoni was shown a red card before half-time. Bosnia made their numerical advantage count by equalising in the 79th minute, before going on to win 4-1 on penalties, with only Sandro Tonali converting for Italy.
Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot-kicks for Gennaro Gattuso’s side, before Esmir Bajraktarevic converted the decisive penalty to seal Bosnia’s first World Cup appearance since 2014. Previously known as a penalty shootout hero, Donnarumma’s antics this time have instead left him with egg on his face.
Donnarumma's 'Dirty' Penalty Shootout Tactic vs Bosnia Backfires
Gianluigi Donnarumma
The Manchester City goalkeeper's behaviour towards his opposite number, Nikola Vasil, has sparked criticism. Shortly after Esposito missed his penalty, a heated argument broke out between the two 'keepers, and the reason behind the animated conversation was about at such a pivotal moment has now been revealed.
According to BILD, Donnarumma snuck into the goalmouth and grabbed Vasilj's cheat sheet as his fellow goalkeeper celebrated the missed spot kick. He then appeared to damage the piece of paper. The report claimed (watch from 2:06 of the video below):
"Afterwards, the cheat sheet, which listed all the Italian shooters and their preferred corners, was clearly damaged. Apparently, Donnarumma had intended to tear it up."
Referee Clement Turpin was forced to step in and, while Gianluigi Donnarumma avoided a second yellow card - something that could have proved a turning point - he was ultimately allowed to remain in goal without it making any real difference.
In the end, his gamesmanship counted for little. Italy’s penalty takers faltered, missing the target, meaning Bosnia didn’t even need to rely on their so-called “cheat sheet” to come out on top.
Italy's World Cup Woes Continue for Third Successive Tournament
Italy
The statistic that best sums up Italy’s World Cup misfortune over the past two decades is that the last time the Azzurri won a knockout match was in the 2006 final, when Marco Materazzi was on the receiving end of an infamous headbutt from Zinedine Zidane.
Back then, their current manager, Gennaro Gattuso, was part of the squad, alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Totti. While the boot-shaped nation has since gone on to win the European Championship, their only World Cup appearances in that time have ended in disappointment.
In 2010, they finished bottom of their group with just two points from matches against Paraguay national football team, New Zealand national football team and Slovakia national football team - all nations ranked far below them by FIFA at the time. Four years later, they once again failed to progress beyond the group stage, before then missing out on the tournament entirely across the next three editions.