Italy suffer shock defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Italy’s national torture continues. The four-time champions will miss their third consecutive World Cup after losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a do-or-die qualifier; This will deal another blow to the reputation of the once powerful team.
With the scores tied 1-1 after extra time at Zenica’s Stadion Bilino Polje, the Azzurri were reduced to 10 men just before half-time and Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for cutting down Amar Memic as he ran towards goal.
It took until the 79th minute for Bosnia and Herzegovina to equalize through Haris Tabakovic, sparking a late rally spurred on by a lively and partisan home crowd – but neither side could produce a winner and so it came down to a penalty shoot-out.
But Francesco Pio Esposito sparked Italy’s first over the bar – and then Bryan Cristante hit the woodwork with his third, allowing Esmir Bajraktarevic to etch his name into national folklore with the winner.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had come to Italy’s rescue numerous times over the previous 120 minutes, could get no closer to any of the home team’s penalties and Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced to their second World Cup since the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
Even more impressive was that they won the penalty shoot-out despite the intervention of their captain and talisman, Edin Dzeko, who was injured in the last game of the second half of extra time.
The Azzurri players were stunned and shattered, disbelief written all over their faces.
Assuming they hold the next match in 2030 – which is not guaranteed on the current evidence – 16 years will pass between matches in Italy, an unimaginable outcome for one of football’s traditional powers.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia respectively. But even the controversial expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, 16 of which are UEFA countries, could not change their fortunes.
This was a blow for FIFA and the three host countries of this year’s World Cup – the US, Canada and Mexico – which had hoped for an economic boost from Italy’s participation, especially given the size of the country’s diaspora in North America.
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