Hosts and victims. That was what Bosnia and Herzegovina were universally cast as heading into the UEFA play-off finals. Italy were the comfortably heaviest of the four favourites, ahead of Türkiye, Denmark and Sweden. This would be there FIFA World Cup™ return party.
Bosnians, however, don’t read scripts and never throw in towels. They pulled of an Ali-versus-Foreman comeback in Wales in the semi-finals, Edin Dzeko snatching a last-gasp equaliser before they transformed a deficit into victory on penalties. They had, the consensus said, already punched above their weight. The four-time world champions would be a goliath too indomitable for the Dragons to slay.
That appeared set to be the case when Gennaro Gattuso’s Azzuri raced ahead through Moise Kean. Once again, though, the Dragons refused to throw in the towel. Bosnian hope hiked when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for stopping Amar Memic going through on goal. Despite pumping ball after ball into the box, though, they were incessantly denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma and his defensive soldiers.
Then, with time running out, Haris Tabakovic scrapped home a loose ball to equalise. When extra time passed by goalless, Italy were once again expected to prevail. Filling their goal, after all, was the 1.96m frame of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 27-year-old may have repelled penalties from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and most recently Vinicius Jr, but he was unable to stop attempts from Esmir Bajraktarev, Kerim Alajbegovic, Tabakovic and Benjamin Tahirovic. Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante sent their efforts over and back off the crossbar.
Italy, unimaginably, would have to watch a third straight World Cup from home. Bosnia and Herzegovina had eked out another seismic KO and were off to a second global finals.
A Lionel Messi wonder goal and Porto Alegre misfortune went against the Dragons at Brazil 2014, meaning an impressive 3-1 win over IR Iran was in vain. Sergej Barbarez, his boys and his 40-year-old striker Dzeko will now strive to reach the knockout phase in North America. Having stunned Italy, they will be confident of handling business against Canada in Toronto, Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area and Qatar in Seattle.
Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup
First appearance: 2014
Qualifications: 2 (2014 & 2026)
Best result: Group stage (2014)
