Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri will miss out on this year’s tournament in North America, while Turkey, Czech Republic and Sweden all secured their places in the final.
Italy have won the World Cup four times but failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and will once again have to watch from afar as the field expands to 48 teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Bosnia won 4-1 on penalties in Zenica after their play-off final ended 1-1 at the end of extra time, with Sandro Tonali the only Italian player to score from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito scored his first penalty and Bryan Cristante smashed his spot-kick against the crossbar.
Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead in the 15th minute, but they were reduced to 10 men when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half.
Bosnia equalized in the 79th minute through Haris Tabakovic, and with no further goals in extra time, the tie was decided on penalties.
“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” Gattuso said. “It’s hard to digest.”
Ranked 66th in the world, Bosnia finished second in qualifying Group H behind Austria before beating Wales on penalties in their play-off semi-final.
Their only World Cup appearance was in 2014. They now enter Group B of this year’s tournament with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
The 2014 edition was the last time Italy qualified. They exited in the group stage, as in 2010. They have not won a World Cup knockout match since last lifting the trophy in 2006.
In 2018, they failed to qualify after losing a two-legged play-off final to Sweden, and they also missed their chance in 2022 after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.
Kosovo’s dream is over
Turkey qualified thanks to Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal which secured a 1-0 victory in Kosovo, shattering their hosts’ dreams of entering the tournament for the first time.
It will be Turkey’s first appearance at a World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s team will enter Group D alongside co-hosts USA, Paraguay and Australia.
Montella’s team is ranked 22nd in the world, but this will be only Turkey’s third appearance at the World Cup: it competed in the 1954 tournament before finishing third 24 years ago in South Korea and Japan.
“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle of this profession,” Montella said. UEFA.com.
Kosovo, ranked 78th, was aiming for a first-ever World Cup appearance, having been accepted as a Fifa member only ten years ago.
The heroism of the Gyokeres, the Danes deny
Sweden recovered from a desperate performance in the qualifying group stage to secure their place in the final in spectacular fashion.
After beating Ukraine 3-1 in the semi-final last week, they beat Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring the winner in the 88th minute.
Earlier, Sweden twice took the lead before being pegged back, with Anthony Elanga’s 20th-minute opener canceled out by Nicola Zalewski, only for Gustaf Lagerbielke to put the hosts back in front before half-time.
Karol Swiderski got Poland’s second goal early in the second half, but Gyokeres forced the ball over the line after a frantic run into the goalmouth late in the match.
They finished last in qualifying Group B without a win, but earned a play-off place thanks to their performances in the UEFA Nations League.
Now coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they will enter Group F of the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s feat by qualifying on back-to-back wins on penalties, having followed up their success against Ireland last week by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.
The match ended 2-2 after extra time, with Pavel Sulc putting the hosts ahead only for Joachim Andersen to lead Denmark level.
Ladislav Krejci then gave the Czechs the lead again in extra time, but Kasper Hogh made it 2-2.
However, Denmark converted just one of their four penalties, with Rasmus Hojlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all failing from the spot as the Czechs qualified for a first World Cup since 2006.
They enter Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.
