{"id":11145,"date":"2026-04-01T11:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/?p=11145"},"modified":"2026-04-01T11:27:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T08:27:01","slug":"bosnia-shock-italy-on-penalties-to-qualify-for-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/bosnia-shock-italy-on-penalties-to-qualify-for-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Bosnia Shock Italy on Penalties to Qualify for 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bosnia vs Italy: Playoff Drama Ends in Historic Triumph<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered one of the biggest shocks in European football by defeating Italy 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Zenica, securing a historic place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result marks Bosnia\u2019s first-ever qualification for the global tournament, while Italy suffer the heartbreak of missing a third consecutive World Cup\u2014an unthinkable run for a four-time champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Match Summary: Red Card Turns the Tide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The match began with Italy showing composure and quality, taking an early lead through Moise Kean. The Azzurri looked in control, dictating possession and limiting Bosnia\u2019s attacking threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the game shifted dramatically before halftime when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a red card. Reduced to 10 men, Italy struggled to maintain their structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bosnia capitalized almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Haris Tabakovi\u0107 rose to the occasion, scoring a crucial equalizer that reignited the home crowd and swung momentum firmly in Bosnia\u2019s favor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/RQY7HWRXP5OKHG4UWR33RIQDVA.jpg?auth=87a5bb8b219d6b504640a97872338559cacfffb1237860c3df9a5fa7023ca748&amp;quality=80&amp;width=1920\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/RQY7HWRXP5OKHG4UWR33RIQDVA.jpg?auth=87a5bb8b219d6b504640a97872338559cacfffb1237860c3df9a5fa7023ca748&amp;quality=80&amp;width=1920\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Second Half: Bosnia Push, Italy Resist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the numerical advantage, Bosnia dominated large spells of the second half. They pressed higher, created more chances, and forced Italy deeper into their half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the pressure, Italy\u2019s defense held firm, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making key saves to keep the score level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Extra time failed to separate the two sides, setting the stage for a high-stakes penalty shootout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Penalty Shootout: Bosnia Keep Their Nerve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the shootout, Bosnia were clinical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bosnia converted <strong>four out of four penalties<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Donnarumma managed to save just one attempt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Italy faltered under pressure, missing crucial kicks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The final score of <strong>4-1 on penalties<\/strong> sparked wild celebrations across Zenica and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Italy\u2019s Nightmare Continues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This defeat confirms a historic low for Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Third consecutive World Cup missed<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Defensive lapse and discipline issues proved costly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Questions now surround the future of the squad and leadership<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Head coach Gennaro Gattuso expressed pride in his players despite the result, while federation president Gabriele Gravina publicly backed him to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, the pressure is immense as Italy faces a period of reflection and rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.am800cklw.com\/content\/dam\/audio\/uploadImg\/2026\/03\/31\/bosnia-s-ermedin-demirovic.png\" alt=\"https:\/\/www.am800cklw.com\/content\/dam\/audio\/uploadImg\/2026\/03\/31\/bosnia-s-ermedin-demirovic.png\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bosnia\u2019s Golden Moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Bosnia and Herzegovina, this victory is more than qualification\u2014it\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First-ever World Cup appearance secured<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong recent form rewarded on the biggest stage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A new generation of players delivering for the nation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Scenes in Sarajevo captured the magnitude of the achievement, with fans flooding the streets in celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for the 2026 World Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bosnia now head into the 2026 World Cup as one of Europe\u2019s most exciting underdog stories. Their resilience, tactical discipline, and composure under pressure make them a team to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Italy, meanwhile, face a long road back. Missing three straight tournaments raises serious concerns about development, squad depth, and long-term strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bosnia\u2019s triumph will be remembered as a defining moment in their football history. Calm under pressure and ruthless in execution, they seized their opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Italy, it\u2019s another chapter of disappointment\u2014one that demands urgent answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com\/reuters\/RQY7HWRXP5OKHG4UWR33RIQDVA.jpg\" alt=\"https:\/\/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com\/reuters\/RQY7HWRXP5OKHG4UWR33RIQDVA.jpg\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Bet on Bangbet?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bangbet.com\/\">Bangbet<\/a>&nbsp;is your No.1 home for sports betting<\/strong>\u2014trusted, rewarding, and built for fans who want more from every match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>High odds on all Premier League fixtures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jackpot opportunities every week<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expert match previews and betting guides<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast payouts and reliable customer service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wide selection of casino games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cashback bonuses and promotions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Responsible gaming support for all players<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bet smart. 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The result marks Bosnia\u2019s first-ever qualification for the global tournament, while Italy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":11147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11145","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11145"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11146,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145\/revisions\/11146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}