Italy face Bosnia test as Kosovo eye historic World Cup spot
Europe’s final four World Cup play-off spots will be decided tonight, with all matches kicking off at 20:45 GMT. Italy, having missed the last two World Cups, face a high-stakes trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The "Squadra Azzurra" players admit they cannot afford to miss another major finals. Inter Milan's Federico Dimarco emphasised the pressure on the national team.
"Our opponents share our hunger to reach the World Cup," Dimarco said. "However, we are Italy. We have an obligation to perform and qualify for the finals."
Bosnia and Herzegovina stand just one game away from their second-ever World Cup appearance. Captain Edin Dzeko remains confident about their chances at home.
"We want to win; that is our primary goal," Dzeko stated. "The Italians know us well, and they will be prepared, but I want us to play at our highest level."
Elsewhere, Kosovo are on the verge of a historic first qualification, only a decade after playing their first official international match. They host Turkey, who secured their place in the final after eliminating Romania.
Kosovo head coach Franco Foda acknowledged the quality of the Turkish squad, citing players like Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. "They have great individual talent, but we have earned our place here," Foda said. "It is a 50-50 game where anything is possible."
In the remaining play-offs, Denmark travel to the Czech Republic, while Poland face Sweden. The four winners will join the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
