According to the publication, the value of the bonus being false was around 300 thousand euros to be divided between the athletes
A crisis in Italian football won another chapter after being eliminated by Bosnia in the European playoff. This time, off the field. According to the newspaper La Repubblica, players from the national team discussed the possibility of receiving an extra bonus in case of qualifying for the World Cup, a topic that went down badly internally and increased the negative repercussions.
According to the publication, the value was around 300 thousand euros to be divided between the athletes. A discussion would have taken place on the eve of the decisive confrontation and caused discomfort within the technical committee itself, which considered the moment inappropriate given the weight of the match.
A situation required intervention from then coach Gennaro Gattusowho left office days after the elimination. The episode began to be treated as a portrait of the environment in the selection, marked by pressure, instability and, according to the Italian press, disconnection with the importance of the moment.
Off the field, the fall to Bosnia accelerated profound changes. The president of the federation, Gabriele Gravina also left officewhile names, such as Gianluigi Buffon, moved away from the selection structure.
Within the four lines, the result extended a historic fast. Italy will be left out of the World Cup for the third time in a row, something unprecedented for one of the most traditional teams in world football, absent since 2014.
*Estadão Content
