Italy made unwanted history with more World Cup heartbreak.
Italy once again failed to qualify for the World Cup as they were beaten on penalties by Bosnia-Herzegovina after a 1-1 draw in their play-off final in Zenica, becoming the first former champions to miss three successive finals.
The Azzurri were favourites to end a 12-year absence from the finals after beating Northern Ireland in the semi-finals, and Moise Kean’s 15th-minute opener seemingly put them on course for a trip to North America this summer.
But, in truth, Italy were second-best for long periods, and their task was made even harder by Alessandro Bastoni’s red card in the 41st minute.
Bosnia took advantage when Haris Tabaković levelled 11 minutes from the end of normal time and, though Italy held on for extra time and had the better of the additional half hour, it was the hosts who held their nerve in the shootout.
Pio Esposito blazed the first penalty over and, after Bryan Cristante cracked the crossbar with Italy’s third attempt, Esmir Bajraktarevic snuck Bosnia’s fourth under Gianluigi Donnarumma to send Bosnia to their second World Cup as an independent nation.
They will go into Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland, while Italy will now deal with the fallout of an unwanted piece of history, their absence from an expanded 48-team tournament marking a new low for the four-time champions.
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Kean stuns Bosnia before Bastoni red
After surviving some early Bosnia pressure, Italy were gifted the lead as Nikola Vasilj’s poor clearance under pressure from Mateo Retegui was intercepted by Nicolo Barella.
The Inter midfielder had the presence of mind to pick out Kean, who bent an unstoppable first-time finish into the top-right corner.
Bosnia responded well and Ivan Basic stung the palms of Donnarumma, before Nikola Katic failed to truly test the Italy goalkeeper with a free header at the far post.
Ermedin Demirovic spurned a gilt-edged opportunity when he flashed a header wide of the left-hand post from Bajraktarevic’s in-swinging cross.
Yet the momentum tilted firmly in Bosnia’s favour as Bastoni saw red for hacking down Amar Memic as the last defender after a poor Donnarumma goal-kick was immediately headed back towards the Italy box.
Ignominy for Italy after shootout woe
Bosnia made two changes for the second half as they sought to capitalise on their numerical advantage, with 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic testing Donnarumma with a swerving effort six minutes after entering the fray.
Italy, though, had a glorious opportunity to take command of the contest as Kean burst through on goal in a superb show of pace as he surged clear from inside his own half, only to send his resulting finish narrowly over the crossbar.
Donnarumma did brilliantly to turn Benjamin Tahirovic drive behind, but Italy appeared to have weathered the worst of the storm and had further chances to double the lead through Esposito and Federico Dimarco.
And they paid the price for not taking them as Amar Dedic’s brilliant right-wing cross caused havoc in the Italy box, with Edin Dzeko’s initial effort kept out brilliantly by Donnarumma before Tabakovic prodded the rebound over the line.
Demirovic nearly completed the turnaround three minutes from the end of normal time, but saw his header brilliantly clawed away by Donnarumma.
It was Italy who had the better chances in extra time, Esposito denied by a near-post save from Vasilj, and there was then controversy as Marco Palestra latched onto a superb pass from Sandro Tonali and was brought down by last defender Tarik Muharemovic, who was shown a yellow card rather than a red, referee Clement Turpin’s decision provoking fury from the visitors.
Still, Italy would have had reason for confidence with Donnarumma, the hero of their last penalty shootout in the Euro 2020 final with England, in between the posts again this time around.
Yet the only penalty he got close to was that of Bajraktarevic, who sent the crowd into raptures with an effort that had just enough power to ensure Bosnia will feature at the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Italy now have a long wait until qualifying for the 100th anniversary edition of the tournament in 2030.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
