Edin Dzeko played in Italy for eight years. Now he could block his “old homeland’s” path to the World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina – and become Europe’s oldest World Cup goalscorer himself.
Edin Dzeko, who else! Thanks to his goal to make it 1-1, Bosnia-Herzegovina saved themselves into extra time in the playoff semi-final in Wales. In the 86th minute, the star striker from second division club Schalke 04 rose highest at a corner and headed the ball into the far corner. In the penalty shootout, the team of former Bundesliga professional Sergej Barbarez made it into the playoff final. “We deserved the final, we had a good qualification”said Dzeko.
Dzeko was in Italy for eight years
There it will be at home in Zenica against Italy on Tuesday (8.45 p.m. in the live ticker at the Sportschau). It’s a very special game for Dzeko. Of course, the most important thing is qualifying for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the now 40-year-old and his country, it would be the second World Cup participation after 2014 in Brazil.
But for Dzeko it is also against the “old homeland”. The striker played in the Italian Serie A for eight years. First at AS Roma, then at Inter Milan and before moving to FC Schalke at AC Florence. In a total of 379 games he scored 152 goals.
Dzeko sees pressure and role as favorite with Italy
And Dzeko opened the verbal banter immediately after the win in Wales. “It’s a big nation and having failed to qualify for the last two World Cups they are under pressure”said the striker. And to increase the pressure, he immediately gave up his role as favorite: “Italy are the favorites, even if we play at home. But we have 90 minutes to show what we can do. We will definitely give it our all.”
Just like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, the four-time world champion, took part in the World Cup for the last time in 2014. This is an eternity for the proud football nation. In qualifying they only finished second behind Norway, and the “Squadra Azzurra” won their playoff semi-final 2-0 against Northern Ireland.
Is Italy underestimating its opponent?
What is worrying the media and fans is a scene after the Wales game. The Rai channel showed Italian players watching the penalty shootout in Wales and turning away from their cell phone screens in celebration when the game was over. They obviously see their chances against the Bosnians as higher than against Wales.
“We will have to go through the fire for at least 90 minutes”then reassured midfielder Sandro Tonali. He has bad memories of his last duels with Dzeko. In May 2023, wearing the AC Milan jersey, he failed in the semi-finals of the Champions League against city rivals Inter with Dzeko. He put his team on the road to victory with a 1-0 goal in the first leg and then moved the “Nerazzurri” into the final.
Dzeko still at 40 years old difference player
Italy’s coach Gennaro Gattuso also knows about Dzeko’s qualities. As coach of AC Milan (2017-2019) and SSC Napoli (2019-2021), he has had to deal with Dzeko several times, who stormed for AS Roma during this time. And he will warn his team about the goalscorer. But the Welsh were also warned, but it was of no use, because Dzeko, an instinctive footballer, sometimes only needs that one moment in the game and can still be the difference-maker even at 40 years old. With six goals in World Cup qualifying, the captain is the Barbarez team’s top goalscorer.
And he doesn’t just demonstrate his top form in the national team. When the former Bundesliga top scorer moved to FC Schalke 04 in the second division in the winter, many asked themselves: Does he still have it? He gives the answer on the pitch. Dzeko scored six times in eight games for the second division leaders.
Edin Dzeko scores against Wales.
We Dzeko Europe’s oldest World Cup goalscorer?
With his goal in Wales he became the oldest European player to score in a World Cup qualifier. The next goal is clear: at the World Cup he could become the oldest goalscorer from Europe and thus replace the Portuguese Pepe. Canada, Qatar and Switzerland are waiting in Group B for the winner of the big showdown at the “Bilino Polje” stadium in Zenica.
