The big day is here, the latest news on Bosnia-Italy
This evening at 8:45 p.m., the World Cup qualification playoff is scheduled, with Italy engaged in Zenica against Bosnia. In yesterday’s training session at Coverciano, coach Gennaro Gattuso tested the Kean-Retegui pair, already used against Northern Ireland, in attack. The lineup should follow the one seen in Thursday’s semifinal, with Politano ahead of Palestra for a shirt on the right flank.
The Azzurri national team comes to the challenge after a 2-0 success over Northern Ireland, signed by goals from Tonali and Kean. Bosnia, on the other hand, gained access to the final by beating Wales on penalties in Cardiff, after regulation time and extra time ended 1-1.
On the eve of the match, Gattuso and Donnarumma spoke in a press conference conveying confidence and awareness of the moment. “There is the awareness that on Tuesday against Bosnia we play so much, we know it well, we play against a strong team, with quality players, strong physically and for this we need a great Italy,” Ringhio explained. “Those who play soccer live for nights like these, there is no more beautiful thing. In the last seven months we have grown a lot even if we are perhaps less beautiful, but that’s okay.” The coach also framed the opponent tactically, “It will be a very physical game, they have quality outfielders and two forwards who move well on crosses. When we have the ball we will need courage.”
On the same wavelength is goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma: “I am really proud of everything I have done with the national team, in these years there have been joys and sorrows, I missed two World Cups but now there is a desire to bring Italy back to where it deserves to be. Only we know what we went through when we didn’t qualify. We are human beings and this match is felt, we want to go to the World Cup but there is the right tension. We will have to be tough: they will go at 100 per hour and we will not have to be less than that.”
In the background of the eve there is also the case related to the jubilation of Federico Dimarco and Pio Esposito, caught on camera while celebrating Bosnia’s passage to the round against Wales at the end of the semifinal against Northern Ireland. The video went viral, sparking reactions from Bosnian fans. Dimarco appeared at a press conference to clarify, “Ours was a simple gesture of instinct. I immediately messaged Edin Dzeko, we are on very good terms: I complimented him, he complimented me and said may the best man win.” Gattuso closed the issue with a clear message: “I have heard many things but they are nonsense. Surely we have hurt ourselves a little bit.”
From the Bosnian front, captain Edin Dzeko responded with diplomacy but without giving up some barbs: “It’s a very normal thing. We all have preferences. Today with social media we have to be very careful: even the most normal things are magnified. Italy is an incredible national team, they have won four World Cups. We know each other well, I lived in Italy for nine years.” Dzeko then tried to shift the pressure on the Azzurri: “After two lost World Cups they play so much and can suffer from the mental aspect.”
Probable lineups
Bosnia (3-5-1-1): Vasjli; Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Memic, Tahirovic, Alajbegovic, Sunjic, Dedic; Dzeko, Demirovic. Technical Commissioner Barbarez
Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Retegui, Kean. Technical Commissioner Gattuso
