JORGINHO missed another penalty for Italy to deny the Azzurri qualification for the World Cup.
Switzerland held Robert Mancini’s men to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, leaving it all to play for in Group C with one game to play.
Italy came back from behind to earn a share of the spoils after Giovanni Di Lorenzo cancelled out Silvan Widmer’s early strike.
The result leaves Italy top of the group on goal difference ahead of Switzerland going into their their match in Northern Ireland on Monday.
The Euro 2020 winners could have secured their qualification for the tournament in Qatar after being handed a stoppage time penalty.
But Chelsea midfielder Jorginho blazed his effort high over the bar after ditching his trademark stuttered run-up.
A visibly upset Jorginho was immediately consoled by Leonardo Bonucci after spurning yet another chance from 12 yards out.
Jorginho, who had his effort saved by Jordan Pickford in the Euro 2020 final penalty shootout, has now missed his last three spot-kicks on the international stage.
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The 29-year-old midfielder was denied by Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer in Italy’s previous encounter against Murat Yakin’s side in September.
Mancini insisted that Jorginho was right to take the penalty as he failed to put the blame on the ex-Napoli star.
He told RAI Sport: “We missed a penalty in the first leg and one in the return, these things happen.
“Jorginho felt like [taking] it and it’s right that he did. He is one of the penalty takers in the team.”
Commenting on Italy’s next match, he added: “Against Northern Ireland we start with an advantage, and that’s not a small one.
“If we play well and score the goals we didn’t score today…
“It was a difficult game and we were conditioned by the goal conceded, it’s a shame that we didn’t score in the second half.”
Meanwhile Juventus centre-back Bonucci remarked: “Jorginho is our penalty taker.
“Four months ago he scored the decisive penalty against Spain (in the Euro 2020 semi-finals). It happens to everyone.”
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