Italy confronts one final challenge before securing a place at the World Cup: Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will host the Azzurri on Tuesday in a high-stakes qualification play-off final in Zenica. Last week’s hard-fought victory over Northern Ireland, secured by goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, did little to calm Italian fans’ anxieties about missing a third consecutive World Cup. The team’s underwhelming performance raised concerns about their ability to advance.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso described the upcoming match in Zenica as an “Everest” due to the immense pressure he faces to lead Italy back to the world’s premier football tournament after a 12-year absence. The reward for success is a spot in Group B at this summer’s finals, alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar. This opportunity is crucial for a historically dominant football nation that has struggled to keep pace with its rivals since its last World Cup triumph in 2006.
Gattuso emphasized that he is not focused on his players’ style of play in what is expected to be a wet and boisterous atmosphere at Bilino Polje Stadium, which has recently experienced snowfall. Meanwhile, the Italian squad has faced sharp criticism for their reaction to Bosnia’s penalty shootout victory over Wales in the other semi-final. Several players, notably full-back Federico Dimarco, were seen celebrating Bosnia’s winning penalty in Cardiff, a gesture that sparked controversy.
Former Roma and Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic commented that “Bosnia is waiting for them with open arms,” highlighting the tension surrounding the encounter. The incident also drew rebuke from former Italy goalkeeper and 1982 World Cup winner Dino Zoff, who criticized the current team for needlessly intensifying the challenge ahead. Zoff remarked that such behavior would only motivate their opponents further and suggested he would have acted differently.
Dimarco addressed the backlash on Sunday, clarifying that his celebration was not meant to show disrespect toward Bosnia or its people. The Inter Milan player explained, “I’ve heard people say we were arrogant. There’s really no reason to be, we’ve missed the last two World Cups.” The intense scrutiny over what many consider a minor gesture underscores the pressure surrounding Tuesday’s match.
Italian media have even pointed to the appointment of referee Clement Turpin as a potential bad omen, recalling his role in the play-off defeat against North Macedonia that denied Italy a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, beyond superstition, Italy’s greatest challenge will be facing a formidable opponent and a hostile home crowd.
Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko demonstrated his enduring threat with a late equalizer against Wales in Cardiff. At 40 years old, his experience and successful career in Italy with Roma and Inter add to the challenge Italy faces. Dzeko may be supported by Red Bull Salzburg forward Kerim Alajbegovic, an 18-year-old talent set to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer, who assisted Dzeko’s goal.
Reflecting on the upcoming match, Dzeko stated, “Against Italy I don’t know who can call themselves favourites, so even if we’re playing at home they are definitely the favourites.” He added, “It would mean everything, not just for me but also for these young kids, the new generation coming through. There is a lot of quality, a lot of good players, and for them it would be something fantastic for their careers. Hopefully we can achieve that.”
