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ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Francesco Pio Esposito shows his dejection of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Inter talent Francesco Pio Esposito felt ‘crushed’ after missing a penalty kick for Italy in the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina and opens up about his off-the-field activities: ‘I’ve been working with a sports psychologist, and I’ve started an English course.’
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Pio Esposito breaks silence on Italy’s penalty miss
Italy international Pio Esposito spoke for the first time about the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off elimination in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
The 20-year-old was the first one to show up from the spot in the penalty shootout, but sent his shot over the crossbar.
“I struggled to process the disappointment right away. I was staring at a fixed point and couldn’t understand what had happened. I felt crushed,” he said.
“The first thought was that I had let down my teammates, the people at home, friends and family. I’ll take penalties again, I’ll score some and miss some. That day, I was convinced I’d take the responsibility of going first. I felt confident, but then it went badly.
“I saw a team that gave everything, for the most part, down to ten men, creating several chances,” he continued.
“It wasn’t enough, and it’s not enough. Italy has the obligation to qualify for the World Cup, and we have to take responsibility.”
Pio Esposito, a product of the Inter academy, has scored nine goals and provided six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this season, his first one in Serie A.
He has reunited with Cristian Chivu, one of his former coaches in the Nerazzurri youth sector and is working on his development, both on and off the pitch.
“For a few months now, I’ve been working with a sports psychologist,” said Pio Esposito.
“I open up, and he gives me practical advice. He helps me a lot, and I enjoy going deeper.
“After matches, I don’t sleep at all because of the adrenaline. I stay with the people I care about, I don’t play PlayStation, and now I’ve started an English course. I want to improve it.”
The Nerazzurri beat Roma 5-2 on Sunday and are the Serie A table leaders with a seven-point lead over Napoli.
However, their captain and best scorer, Lautaro Martinez, has suffered another muscular injury and is expected to miss two weeks of action.
“We needed a convincing performance like that [against Roma], in addition to the win. There’s optimism, and we fully believe in it,” Pio concluded.
“Lautaro is very complete, but what excites you is his passion and hunger. Even in training, he plays as if it were a World Cup Final.”
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
