Inter expertise Francesco Pio Esposito felt ‘crushed’ after lacking a penalty kick for Italy within the World Cup play-off Last in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina and opens up about his off-the-field actions: ‘I’ve been working with a sports activities psychologist, and I’ve began an English course.’
Pio Esposito breaks silence on Italy’s penalty miss
Italy worldwide Pio Esposito spoke for the primary time in regards to the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off elimination in an interview with .
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The 20-year-old was the primary one to point out up from the spot within the penalty shootout, however despatched his shot over the crossbar.
“I struggled to course of the frustration instantly. I used to be gazing a hard and fast level and couldn’t perceive what had occurred. I felt crushed,” he mentioned.
“The primary thought was that I had let down my teammates, the folks at dwelling, family and friends. I’ll take penalties once more, I’ll rating some and miss some. That day, I used to be satisfied I’d take the accountability of going first. I felt assured, however then it went badly.
“I noticed a crew that gave all the things, for essentially the most half, down to 10 males, creating a number of possibilities,” he continued.
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“It wasn’t sufficient, and it’s not sufficient. Italy has the duty to qualify for the World Cup, and now we have to take accountability.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy reveals reacts through the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Picture by Getty Photographs/Getty Photographs)
Pio Esposito, a product of the Inter academy, has scored 9 targets and offered six assists in 41 appearances throughout all competitions this season, his first one in Serie A.
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He has reunited with Cristian Chivu, one in every of his former coaches within the Nerazzurri youth sector and is engaged on his improvement, each on and off the pitch.
“For just a few months now, I’ve been working with a sports activities psychologist,” mentioned Pio Esposito.
“I open up, and he offers me sensible recommendation. He helps me rather a lot, and I take pleasure in going deeper.
“After matches, I don’t sleep in any respect due to the adrenaline. I stick with the folks I care about, I don’t play PlayStation, and now I’ve began an English course. I wish to enhance it.”
The Nerazzurri beat Roma 5-2 on Sunday and are the Serie A desk leaders with a seven-point lead over Napoli.
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Nonetheless, their captain and greatest scorer, Lautaro Martinez, has suffered one other muscular harm and is
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Lautaro Martinez of Inter celebrates scoring his crew’s first objective through the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Picture by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
“We would have liked a convincing efficiency like that [against Roma], along with the win. There’s optimism, and we totally imagine in it,” Pio concluded.
“Lautaro may be very full, however what excites you is his ardour and starvation. Even in coaching, he performs as if it had been a World Cup Last.”