Four days before the World Cup play-off final, the Azzurri continue training at Coverciano, where they will be this afternoon to prepare for the clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina. After their win in Bergamo against Northern Ireland, the Azzurri have one final game that lies in their path to the World Cup. However, this time, they won’t be able to rely on home advantage. In fact, only 500 tickets have been allocated to Italian fans at the ‘Bilino Polje’ stadium in Zenica, which is ready to push the home side towards the World Cup.

Federico Dimarco commented during the press conference: “We’re expecting a heated atmosphere and a team that is just as determined as us to qualify. We are Italy, and we have the responsibility to get to the World Cup. We’ll be up against a strong team with experienced players and talented individuals who are doing well. The mind controls the body, and we’ll need to be mentally strong. If we manage to stay focused for 95 minutes, I think we can achieve our goal.’

WORLD CUP AMBITIONS. Dimarco has only played in a World Cup with the Under-20 National Team in 2017 in South Korea. Back then, he was led by coach Alberico Evani and won bronze, with Dimarco also scoring in the quarter-finals. Nine years later, he dreams of being back there with the senior team, who on Tuesday night will try to secure a place for themselves and for millions of Italians, in the final stage of the World Cup playoffs: “We know the responsibility we have. We want to qualify; we deserve it. This is a group that enjoys itself and gets along well together.” The Azzurri wing-back was also, somewhat unwillingly, the subject of a video that went viral online, showing him watching on his phone the penalty shootout of the semi-final between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some accused him of celebrating Džeko and his teammates’ win, showing a lack of respect for their upcoming opponents: “It was an instinctive reaction. We were just watching the penalties. I absolutely did not disrespect Bosnia or the people of Bosnia. I was called arrogant, but how could I be, given we’ve missed two World Cups? That said, I’d add that it was also disrespectful to film us in a setting where there were friends, family, and even children.”

 

A MATCH WITHIN THE MATCH: DŽEKO. On Thursday at the ‘Cardiff City Stadium’, when all hope seemed lost, Bosnia’s captain once again came through for them. In the 86th minute of the semi-final against Wales, with his team on the brink of elimination, the ever-reliable Edin Džeko scored the goal that changed the course of these play-offs, as well as the Azzurri’s flight plans. Now our national team will travel to Zenica on Monday instead of heading to Cardiff to play, 24 hours later, in the match that decides a place at the World Cup. The record holder for appearances (147) and goals (73) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, at forty years old, the “Swan of Sarajevo” has once again shown he can have the final say, and on Tuesday night, in front of his home fans, he will look to deliver yet another night of glory. However, he will be up against many of his former teammates from his time at Roma, Inter, and Fiorentina. Dimarco is one of these former teammates: “After the match, I congratulated him. Edin is a fantastic player and a great person. I also met him this summer on holiday, and we still get along really well.”

 

A SPECTACULAR SEASON. Fourteen assists and six goals: the numbers highlight how the Inter wing-back has been a standout performer in an exceptional season. Over the last few months, he has established himself as the undisputed master of the left flank and seems to have strengthened his striking ability, which now makes him one of the best left-footed players around. With his lethal eye for goal, the three goals scored in 37 appearances for the National Team seem like there’s more potential to give: “I’m having a good season, but as I’ve always said, assists and goals on a personal level don’t matter much to me. If they help the team achieve results, that’s great; otherwise, they count for little.”

THE ESPOSITO GUARANTEE. At Inter and with the National Team, Dimarco is bearing witness to Pio Esposito’s incredible form: “He’s a special guy, who is already very mature for his age. He always gives 100%, both in matches and in training. There’s not a lot of advice that he needs; he just needs to be left to do his thing and allowed to grow without pressure.”