Bosnia-Italy, the Zenica stadium with reduced capacity

A small stadium, with very powerful acoustics and the ability to scare practically everyone. The Bilino Polje in Zenica, which will host Italy’s playoff final on Tuesday evening, is a real den for the Bosnians who here, even more than in the more well-known facility in Sarajevo (larger but with an athletics track currently under renovation), know how to make their “heat” felt. And, apparently, much more.

racism and unfairness

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We are talking about a stadium with 13,632 seats, “intimate” as Gattuso likes (who also reiterated last night how happy the choice of the Bergamo facility was, also because it is small), but this time packed with our opponents who, with FIFA sanctions in hand, are not exactly saints. Last November 15th, in the match against Romania, they did everything and FIFA fined them: 60 thousand Swiss francs for “incorrect behavior of the team, discrimination, racism, use of pyrotechnic material, disturbance during the national anthems and lack of order and discipline inside and outside the stadium”. But also a day with the Bilino Poljea capacity reduced by 20%.

the sanction

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The day in question is precisely the one against Italy. After the match against Romania, which needless to say won 3-1, Dzeko and his teammates played first in Austria and then in Wales. The next match, the one in which to serve the FIFA sanction, is the final that counts for the World Cup. Considering the spaces to be kept free for safety reasons, the places available on Tuesday therefore drop to 8,800.

the guest sector

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For Italy this can only be good news. The guest sector is in fact unchanged, although still very small. How many Italians will there be? Between guests and tickets available to the FIGC, there will be around 800. Few, but determined to do the feat among fans who, between one controversy and another, seem to be looking forward to facing us.