Italy miss third straight World Cup after penalty shootout loss to Bosnia
ZENICA: Italy’s agonising World Cup exile continues after they fell to a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their playoff final on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw.
Four-time champions Italy had lost out at the playoff stage to miss the last two World Cups, and their last qualification in 2014 coincided with Bosnia’s only previous appearance.
Bosnia had suffered plenty of playoff heartbreak themselves, missing out on the 2010 World Cup and the last four European Championships, but they came from behind on Tuesday, and their keeper did not need to make a save when the shootout came around.
Italy got off to the perfect start, with Moise Kean putting them ahead in the 15th minute, but had Alessandro Bastoni sent off three minutes before the break to raise the hopes of the home side.
Bosnia levelled 11 minutes from time through Haris Tabakovic, and both Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties while the hosts made no mistake from the spot to repeat their semi-final shootout win over Wales.
The expected cagey affair never materialised, with a frantic start, and the pace rarely let up in an enthralling game in Zenica.
A poor attempted pass out from Bosnia keeper Nikola Vasilj allowed Italy to take the lead.
The wayward ball fell to Nicolo Barella, and he laid the ball off to Kean, who met the pass with a splendid first-time shot from outside the area, which sailed into the top corner for his eighth goal in his last six games for Italy.
Bosnia came surging forward, with Gianluigi Donnarumma stretching to parry away a powerful effort from Ivan Basic, and the keeper then saved Nikola Katic’s header.
Italy went down to 10 men in the 42nd minute with Bastoni punished for a late last-man tackle as Amir Memic raced towards goal, and Bosnia continued to create plenty of chances.
Donnarumma got down well to palm away Benjamin Tahirovic’s shot but was eventually beaten when Tabakovic, who had been on the pitch for seven minutes, pounced to net a rebound after the keeper had kept out Edin Dzeko’s header.
Dzeko was injured right at the end, holding an ice pack to his shoulder before the coin toss ahead of the shootout, but Bosnia did not need their 40-year-old all-time top scorer. Esposito blasted Italy’s first penalty over and, after Cristante sent his spot kick crashing off the crossbar, Esmir Bajraktarevic completed Bosnia’s perfect penalty strike rate to send the Bilino Polje Stadium into wild celebrations. Monitoring Desk
