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Italy and Bosnia chase World Cup return in history-laden playoff
Both teams aim to break a 12-year World Cup absence with Bosnia seeking a second finals appearance and Italy risking a third consecutive miss, amid challenging weather and fan restrictions.
- On Tuesday, Italy plays Bosnia in a World Cup playoff at Zenica's Bilino Polje Stadium, with both teams aiming to end a 12-year finals absence in a fixture rekindling memories of Bosnia's first international victory.
- Italy enters under intense pressure following playoff eliminations in 2018 and 2022, while Bosnia secured their spot after defeating Wales in a penalty shootout last week.
- Weather conditions forced Italy to train at their home base of Coverciano, and UEFA reduced the stadium's 14,000-seat capacity by 20% following disciplinary sanctions for discriminatory conduct.
- Containing 40-year-old Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko remains Italy's primary defensive challenge; Federico Dimarco called him "a great player" despite their club relationship.
- For several senior players, Italian winger Matteo Politano noted this playoff represents "probably our last chance" to reach the World Cup, with the winner securing tournament qualification.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Italy hoping to scale World Cup 'Everest' ahead of Bosnia play-off showdown
Italy have one more obstacle standing between them and a return to the World Cup in the shape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who host the Azzurri on Tuesday in what promises to be a tense qualification play-off final in Zenica.
The winner of this European Dam Final will face Canada in his first World Cup game on June 12 in Toronto.
Italy, Bosnia chase WC return
Italy have one more obstacle standing between them and a return to the World Cup in the shape of Bosnia and Hercegovina, who host the Azzurri on Tuesday in what promises to be a tense qualification play-off final in Zenica. A battling win over Northern Ireland in last week's semi-final did little to ease Italian supporters' fears about missing out on a third straight World Cup, goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean stopping a lacklustre disp…
From Donnarumma through Stretcher and Tonali, the ct relies on the most experienced men for the challenge with Bosnia. And between frost and opponents, even the referee of 4 years ago...
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