The “Zidane Curse” returns after Italy’s historic collapse

Italy’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup didn’t just leave a sporting wound—it ignited a wave of theories among fans. After losing to Bosnia & Herzegovina on penalties following a 1-1 draw, the Azzurri confirmed the unthinkable: they will miss their third consecutive World Cup.

But beyond the failure, social media quickly brought back a narrative many thought was forgotten: the infamous “Zinedine Zidane Curse.” According to reactions across X, Italy’s downfall is not just about football—it feels almost “karmic,” tied to what happened in the 2006 final.

Based on fan reactions and circulating analysis, the pattern seems eerily consistent.

From Kean’s goal to total collapse: another night to forget

The match initially seemed under control for Gennaro Gattuso’s side. Moise Kean opened the scoring and reignited hope of returning to the World Cup. However, everything changed after Alessandro Bastoni was sent off in the 41st minute.

Down to ten men, Italy held on until the 79th minute, when Haris Tabakovic equalized. From that moment on, the team appeared emotionally shaken.

The penalty shootout turned into a disaster: Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to stop a single shot, while Bosnia converted all of theirs flawlessly.

The result not only meant elimination, but also another dark chapter in Italy’s recent football history.

The origin of the “curse”: Berlin 2006 and a haunting warning

To understand the theory, we must go back to the 2006 World Cup final. That night, Zinedine Zidane was sent off after his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi. Italy went on to lift the trophy, but according to resurfacing accounts, the French legend allegedly delivered a chilling message:

“That will be the last World Cup you win.”

Since then, the numbers seem to fuel the narrative: they were eliminated in the group stage at the South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 World Cups, failed to qualify for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, and were recently eliminated in the playoffs.

Myth or reality? The deeper crisis behind the disaster

While the curse theory dominates the conversation, reality points to deeper issues. According to ongoing analysis and media debate, Italy is facing a structural crisis, marked by a lack of emerging talent, questionable decisions, and inconsistent performances.

Still, the emotional narrative remains powerful. For many fans, the “Zidane Curse” offers an explanation for the unthinkable: how a four-time world champion fell into such a historic decline.

The fact is that Italy will have gone more than a decade without even qualifying for the World Cup.

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