Mansion Sports – The Italian national team battled into extra time with ten men following Alessandro Bastoni’s red card and a goal by Moise Kean, but ultimately lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Journey to the Decisive Match

The Azzurri defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in the semifinal thanks to goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, maintaining the same lineup in Zenica.

A late equalizer from Edin Dzeko forced extra time, and Bosnia eventually overcame Wales through penalties, with the only change being Ivan Basic replacing Benjamin Tahirovic.

Familiar faces included Atalanta defender Sead Kolasinac and Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic.

Match Progress

Early threats emerged as Riccardo Calafiori cleared the ball twice before producing a corner, followed by Ermedin Demirovic firing a shot directly at Gianluigi Donnarumma on a counterattack.

Italy took the lead from their first clear opportunity when Mateo Retegui pressured the goalkeeper into an error, allowing his pass to be intercepted by Nicolò Barella, who then delivered the ball for Kean to finish with a first-time right-footed strike into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Kean became the fourth player to score in six consecutive appearances for Italy after Adolfo Baloncieri in 1928, Gigi Riva in 1969, and Roberto Bettega in 1977, totaling eight goals during that span.

Bosnian Pressure and the Red Card

Anel Katic headed wide, and Dzeko sent a shot over the bar, while Donnarumma had to work hard to block Basic’s powerful effort from a corner, and Retegui’s weak attempt was easily saved.

A narrow header from Demirovic went wide from Esmir Bajraktarevic’s delivery, but the turning point came when Donnarumma’s poor goal kick was intercepted by Amar Memic, who raced toward goal before being brought down from behind by Bastoni.

The red card was unavoidable, and Federico Gatti was introduced for Retegui to reinforce the defense.

Second Half and Extra Time

Bosnia continued to apply pressure, with Memic heading wide and sensational 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic entering in the second half, while Italy responded by bringing on full-back Marco Palestra for the more offensive Matteo Politano.

Demirovic almost connected with a dangerous cross, and Alajbegovic tested Donnarumma from the edge of the box, but Kean nearly doubled Italy’s lead after intercepting the ball in his own half and sprinting forward before his shot flew over.

Memic sustained an injury, while Donnarumma produced a brilliant save to deny Tahirovic’s low shot to the near post.

Shortly after, substitute Francesco Pio Esposito fired over the bar following a pull-back from Palestra.

Federico Dimarco also failed to capitalize on a Barella delivery, but Bosnia equalized when Donnarumma saved Dzeko’s header from Amar Dedic’s cross but could not keep the rebound, which Haris Tabakovic converted.

Donnarumma made another crucial save on Demirovic’s header, sending the match into extra time.

Penalty Shootout Decides Fate

Palestra ran onto a through ball from Tonali and was brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Muharemovic, but only received a yellow card.

Palestra also delivered a cross for Esposito’s header, forcing a difficult save from Nikola Vasilj.

Esposito created another chance but saw his shot blocked, while Davide Frattesi denied Alajbegovic’s powerful strike.

Tahirovic then missed wide in the final minutes of extra time, sending the match to penalties.

Esposito failed with Italy’s first penalty, sending the ball over the bar, followed by Bryan Cristante striking the crossbar, allowing Bajraktarevic to maintain a perfect record against Donnarumma and secure Bosnia’s qualification for the World Cup.