This time, if possible, it hurts even more. After Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, the national team has missed out on the World Cup once again. Heart and soul were not enough for an Italy side that, despite being down to ten men for eighty minutes, came close twice to sealing the game after Kean’s opening goal, only to be pegged back ten minutes from full time. Donnarumma’s saves, the tireless runs of Barella and Tonali, and the relentless energy of Palestra were not enough. The Azzurri could rue missed chances at 1–0 by Esposito and Dimarco, as well as the failure to send off Muharemovic in extra time for a foul similar to the one that had resulted in Bastoni’s red card at the end of the first half.

Gattuso spoke immediately after the match: “It hurts, but I’m proud of my players. They didn’t deserve a blow like this for the love they put into it. They showed their attachment to the shirt. It’s a heavy setback; I think it was unfair for us to go out today. Personally, I apologise because I didn’t manage to get it done. Talking about my future today isn’t important. What mattered was reaching the World Cup, and we’re sorry.”

KEAN STRIKES EARLY. Gattuso used the same starting eleven that had faced Northern Ireland, once again relying on the attacking duo of Kean and Retegui. Another striker, the evergreen Edin Džeko, led a Bosnia side that also featured two familiar faces from Serie A, Atalanta and Sassuolo defenders Kolašinac and Muharemović. Meanwhile, Kerim Alajbegović, the 2007-born Salzburg talent who proved decisive off the bench in the semi-final against Wales, started among the substitutes.


The “Bilino Polje” was a cauldron, with the tempo proving high as Bosnia did not sit back. The first attempt came from the hosts, with Donnarumma comfortably gathering Demirović’s tame right-footed effort. Italy, however, took the lead in the 15th minute: Vasilj cleared the ball straight to Barella, who fed the onrushing Kean. The Fiorentina striker struck first time with a curling right-footed shot sending the ball into the top corner. It was Moise’s thirteenth goal for the national team, his sixth in a row. Bosnia felt the blow but tried to respond, and Donnarumma had to fly to push away a long-range strike from Bašić, then repeated himself by catching Katić’s header. At the other end, Retegui forced Vasilj into a low save. There was not a moment to breathe.


AZZURRI DOWN TO TEN. Italy’s problems came down the right flank, where Bajraktarević was by far the most inspired of his teammates. In the 39th minute, the PSV winger crossed onto Demirović’s head, but he sent it wide. Two minutes later came the moment that changed the game: Bastoni slid in and fouled Memić as he was through on goal, and Turpin had no doubts, showing a straight red card. Gattuso responded by taking off Retegui and bringing on Gatti, effectively turning Italy’s 3-5-2 into a 5-3-1. At halftime, Italy were one goal ahead but one man down.

SECOND HALF UNDER SIEGE. Bosnia restarted with Tahirović and Alajbegović, clearly increasing their attacking pressure, while Gattuso responded by bringing on Palestra in place of Politano. As expected, the hosts pushed forward in search of an equaliser: Demirović failed to connect with Memić’s cross, then Donnarumma parried Alajbegović’s effort. Italy were under heavy pressure, with play confined to one half of the pitch. After fifteen minutes came a sudden burst from Kean, who raced toward goal but, after a forty-metre run, fired over as Vasilj came out. It was the Fiorentina striker’s last action of the match, as he made way for Esposito. 

TABAKOVIĆ EQUALISES. Gattuso added more height by bringing on Cristante for Locatelli. Donnarumma kept Italy in it, tipping Tahirović’s well-placed effort around the post. But it was Italy who had a double chance to seal the match: Esposito fired over from Palestra’s assist, while Dimarco scuffed his left-footed shot from a good position. It proved to be the turning point of the night. The equaliser came from substitute Tabaković, who slotted home the rebound after Donnarumma had parried Džeko’s header. Just like in the semi-final against Wales, Bosnia found the leveller ten minutes from time. In the 90th minute, Donnarumma once again came to the rescue, denying Demirović from close range.
 

TURPIN SPARES MUHAREMOVIĆ. After Frattesi came on for Barella in the dying minutes of regular time, Spinazzola replaced Dimarco in extra time. Italy were forced to defend close to their own box, hoping for a chance on the counter. That chance came at the end of the first half of extra time when Palestra was brought down by Muharemović just outside the area: it was a straight red, yet Turpin showed only a yellow and was not called to VAR. The Azzurri protested, but at the same time gained confidence. Palestra, again in inspired form, delivered a cross from the byline to Esposito, but Vasilj fisted it over for a corner. In the second period of extra time, Pio Esposito, fed by Spinazzola, came close to scoring, while Alajbegović dominated every ball for Bosnia. Tahirović had a match point, but his effort from the edge of the box went wide. After 120 minutes of drama, it went to penalties. Esposito and Cristante missed for Italy, while Bosnia remained flawless. Twelve years after Brazil 2014, Džeko and his teammates returned to the World Cup. For the third consecutive time, Italy were eliminated, amid the tears of the Azzurri and the ecstatic celebrations of the Bosnian fans.

 

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 1-1 ITALIA (4-1 ON PENS) 

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (4-4-2): Vasilj; Memic (70’ Burnic), Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; (46’ Alajbegovic); Dedic, Sunjic, (dal 46’ Tahirovic), Basic (70’ Tabakovic), Bajraktarev; Demirovic (115’ Hadziahmetovic), Dzeko. Unused subs: Hadzikic, Zlomislic, Mujakic, Celik, Gigovic, Bazdar, Radeljic. Coach: Barbarez.

ITALIA (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano (46’ Palestra), Barella (85’  Frattesi), Locatelli (70’ Cristante), Tonali, Dimarco (106’ Spinazzola), Retegui (43’ Gatti), Kean (70’ Esposito). Unused subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Cambiaso, Buongiorno, Pisilli, Raspadori. Coach: Gattuso.

Referee: Turpin (Francia); Assistants: Danos e Pages (Francia); Fourth Official: Sanchez (Spagna); VAR: Brisard (Francia); AVAR: Delajod (Francia).

Scorers: 15’ Kean (I), 80’ Tabakovic (B)

Note: Bastoni (I) sent off at 41’. Booked: Tahirovic (B), Donnarumma (I), Muharemovic (B), Katic (B), Frattesi (I), Vasilj (B). Penalties: Tahirovic (B) goal, Esposito (I) miss, Tabakovic (B) goal, Tonali (I) goal, Alajbegovic (B) goal, Cristante (I) miss, Bajraktarev (B) goal.