Bosnia and Herzegovina
Italy
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0.00
Expected Goals (xG)
0.00
Passing by
615 (88%)
Accurate passes
287 (74%)
Lineup data will be available 1 hour before kick-off
World Cup – Classification Europe – Group H
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – World Cup
- Promotion – World Cup (Promotion: )
Bosnia and Herzegovina produced a stunning upset, defeating ten-man Italy 1-1 (4-2 on penalties) in a spectacular World Cup play-off final, denying the Azzurri a place at the world tournament.
The Bilino Polje Stadium witnessed an unforgettable night as Gianluigi Donnarumma delivered a heroic individual performance. However, their efforts ultimately failed to prevent Italy’s heartbreaking exit after a tense penalty shootout.
This decisive playoff final pitted two nations desperate for a place at the 2026 World Cup. Italy, still scarred by recent qualification disappointments, faced a resilient Bosnia backed by their fervent home support. Both teams came into this clash with the winner following strong group stage campaigns, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter.
The match started with Italy claiming their quality. Nicolò Barella cut through the Bosnian defense and made a precise assist to Moise Kean. Kean then calmly slotted home in the 15th minute to give the Azzurri an early and crucial lead.
However, Italy’s lead was threatened shortly before the break. Alessandro Bastoni received a straight red card in the 41st minute for a foul. This left Italy to navigate most of the match with just ten men.
Coach Roberto Mancini immediately adjusted his tactical setup, bringing on Mateo Retegui for Federico Gatti. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina began to push harder, noticing a significant shift in momentum.
At the interval, Italy faced a daunting task: to hold on to their slender lead against a revitalized opponent. Bosnia and Herzegovina, fueled by the man advantage and their local people, knew they had to capitalize on their numerical superiority.
In the second half, Bosnia launched relentless attacks. Gianluigi Donnarumma became Italy’s mainstay, making save after save to deny the hosts. He showed his world-class ability, keeping Italy in the contest with remarkable saves.
The relentless pressure finally paid off for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Substitute Haris Tabakovic found the back of the net in the 79th minute. His powerful strike leveled the scores, sending the Bilino Polje crowd into a frenzy.
With the game deadlocked at 1-1, overtime was just as tense. Both teams battled fiercely, resulting in several yellow cards as fatigue set in. The final whistle in the 120th minute signaled a penalty shoot-out to decide who would advance to the World Cup final.
The statistics painted a clear picture of Bosnia’s dominance, especially after the red card. They controlled 65% of possession and registered an astonishing total of 30 shots, with 11 on target. Italy managed just 9 shots, 3 on target, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s 10 saves highlighted his outstanding performance.
In the dramatic shootout, Bosnia and Herzegovina converted four penalties through Tahirovic, Tabakovic, Alajbegovic and Bajraktarevic. Italy missed two of their efforts, ultimately crashing out of World Cup contention in a truly unforgettable night for Bosnian football. This hard-fought victory marks an important milestone for the Dragons.
