For the third time in a row, a World Cup will take place without Italy. Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated the four-time champions on penalties and crowned a fabulous evening in their own country with a score of 5:2 (1:1 after 90 minutes).
“We didn’t deserve it, even if we showed passion”said Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose team played outnumbered for long stretches of the game. “We are devastated and hurt, but I am also proud of my team.”
In June 2025, Gattuso took over the coaching job at Luciano Spalletti’s “Squadra Azzurra” with the big task of finally leading Italy back to the World Cup after missing two finals. The former midfielder won five of the following six qualifying games, making it to the playoffs, where the first hurdle was overcome against Northern Ireland (2-0) – but he fell over the last hurdle, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will probably no longer remain Italy coach.
Kean takes advantage of Vasilj’s pass mistake
After the 15th minute it looked like a happy ending. St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj made a terrible mistake; in an attempt to clear the ball, he played it right into the feet of Nicolo Barella, who passed it on to Moise Kean – and the striker finished fantastically from 18 meters with a direct shot right into the corner to make it 1-0. The World Cup was within reach for Italy.
However, from that moment on the Gattuso team also had big problems with the Bosnians. Italy relied on possession of the ball and at a leisurely pace, while the hosts, on the other hand, attacked every attack as if it were their last, they played with the highest intensity – and created a number of good chances. Shortly after going behind, Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a dropkick from Ivan Basic (20′), and the Manchester City goalkeeper also saved a header from Nikola Katic (24′).
Red card for Bastoni – turnaround for Bosnia?
It was very close after a header from Ermedin Demirovic, who missed the Italian goal by just centimeters after a cross from the outstanding Esmir Bajraktarevic (38th). But a little later Bosnian hopes rose, after an emergency stop against the second strong winger Amar Memic, Alessandro Bastoni was shown the red card (41st) and had to survive more than half a half outnumbered. It almost didn’t even work until the break, Memic headed just wide shortly before the final whistle (45th + 2).
The score after the first half was 15:2 in favor of the Bosnians and the shooting at Donnarumma continued immediately after the break. Italy only defended with all hands, every attempt to counterattack fizzled out in the beginning, and there was hardly any breathing space for the “Squadra Azzurra” at first.
Kean misses the chance to make it 2-0, Donnarumma holds strong
After 55 minutes, the ten Italians found their way back into their possession phases and almost struck again after the Bosnians’ second defensive mistake. Kean sprinted into an opponent’s pass and ran towards Vasilj alone from the halfway line, but in this case his shot was too high (59′). The Fiorentina striker was annoyed, after all he also knew that there probably wouldn’t be too many more opportunities like this for the four-time world champions.
Not for Kean anyway, because he was substituted ten minutes later – and not for Italy either, although the team was now doing a much better job of defending the opposition’s attacks. Bosnia no longer had the abundance of chances, and the guests were now much more aggressive defensively, just like Gattuso. In the 72nd minute, Donnarumma still had to show his class when he clawed Benjamin Tahirovic’s low shot from the corner.
Tabakovic dusts himself off and it goes into extra time
Apart from this scene, Italy looked much more stable and even had further opportunities to score the second goal, but missed them – and that was punished. After one of the many crosses, Edin Dzeko got through, Donnarumma still held, but Haris Tabakovic scored seven minutes after coming on to make it 1-1 (79′). The crowd in Zenica was now really going, with only one goal missing for their second World Cup participation after 2014.
Donnarumma was able to prevent that when he again strongly defended a header from Demirovic (87th). It was the last time in the regular half that the 27-year-old 2021 European champion goalkeeper had to intervene; he saved Italy in extra time. It remained largely uneventful – until the 105th minute, when Vasilj made amends with a save against Francesco Esposito from close range.
Italy lost their nerve from that point
Nothing happened again until the 119th minute, when Tahirovic narrowly missed the World Cup goal from 18 meters, so it went to penalties – and there was a duel between two absolute goalkeeper specialists in this field. Donnarumma had celebrated in these situations six out of seven times in his career (including in the European Championship final), and Vasilj’s saves in the semi-final ensured victory after a penalty shootout in Wales.
Tahirovic started successfully, after him Esposito chased the ball into the night sky of Zenica – Bosnia was now very close to the World Cup. Especially after Tabakovic’s penalty, who shot the ball into the corner even though Sandro Tonali scored after him. Kerim Alajbegovic also stayed cool, then Bosnia celebrated again as Bryan Cristante shot the ball onto the crossbar. After Bajraktarevic’s final shot, the celebration knew no bounds.
