Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as a play-off defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri will not take part in this year’s tournament in North America, while Turkiye, the Czech Republic and Sweden all secured their places at the finals.
Italy have won the World Cup four times, but they failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and will again have to watch from afar when the field expands to 48 teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Bosnia won 4-1 in the shoot-out 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 converted their first penalty and Bryan Cristante smashed his kick against the crossbar.
Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead after 15 minutes but they were reduced to 10 men when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half.
Bosnia equalized on 79 minutes 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 previous World Cup appearance came in 2014. They now enter Group B at this year’s tournament alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
The 2014 edition is the last time Italy qualified. They went out in the group stage, just like in 2010. They have not won a World Cup knockout match since they last lifted the trophy in 2006.
In 2018 they failed to qualify after losing a two-legged play-off final to Sweden, and they also missed out in 2022 after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.
Kosovo dreams of
Turkiye qualified as Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal secured a 1-0 win in Kosovo, dashing their hosts’ dream of appearing at the tournament for the first time.
It will be Turkiye’s first appearance at a World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s side will go into Group D alongside hosts USA, Paraguay and Australia.
Montella’s side are ranked 22nd in the world, but this will be only Turkey’s third ever appearance at the World Cup – they took part 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, were targeting a first-ever World Cup appearance after only being accepted as a Fifa member ten years ago.
Gyokere’s heroism, the Danes denied
Sweden overcame a desperate group stage performance in qualifying to secure their place at the final in dramatic fashion.
After defeating Ukraine 3-1 in last week’s semi-final, they edged Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner.
Earlier, Sweden had twice taken the lead only to be pegged back, with Anthony Elanga’s opener on 20 minutes canceled out by Nicola Zalewski, only for Gustaf Lagerbielke to put the hosts back in front before the break.
Karol Swiderski got Poland’s second early in the second half, but Gyokeres forced the ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble late on.
They finished bottom of qualifying group B without a win, but secured a play-off spot thanks to their performances in the UEFA Nations League.
Now coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they will go into Group F at the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s performance by qualifying thanks to back-to-back shoot-out wins as they followed up their success against Ireland last week by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.
The match ended 2-2 after extra time, with Pavel Sulc sending the hosts ahead only for Joachim Andersen to lead the Danes.
Ladislav Krejci then brought the Czechs back in front in extra time, but Kasper Hogh made it 2-2.
However, Denmark converted just one of their four penalties, with Rasmus Højlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all missing from the spot, as the Czechs qualify for a first World Cup since 2006.
They are in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.
