Italy vs Bosnia: World Cup Playoff Final Showdown

Italy faces Bosnia Tuesday in a crucial World Cup playoff final, with the winner heading

to the tournament after beating Canada later.

The Azeri haven't qualified since winning it all in 2006, missing the last two-on penalties.

Bosnia's 40-year-old striker, Edin Zeco, knows Italy's backline inside out, having teamed

up with all three starters at Roma and Inter Milan.

Dezeco netted his 73rd international goal, a header, to force penalties in Bosnia's semi-final

win over Wales last week.

Italy handled Northern Ireland 2-0 in theirs.

The match goes down in Bosnia's 14-thousand seed by Lino Polje Stadium in Zeneca, but

capacity drops 20% due to past fan trouble, and Reese's snow has folks worried about the

pitch.

Players on both sides show respect, mixed with tension.

Italy's Federico DiMarco, who plays with Zeco off the pitch, sink in grats after the

Wales game, but now shells the friendship.

Bosnia spotted videos of Italians cheering that result, calling it underestimation, while

Zeco says Italy fears tough draws.

Italy eyes line up tweaks, maybe starting 20-year-old Pio Esposito, up top, instead of Mateo

Redigue, after his strong sub cameo against Northern Ireland.

DiMarco praises the kid's maturity.

The pressure hits hard, as many young Italians and even vets like 32-year-old Mateo Palatano

have never played a World Cup.

Such a stressed mindset over excuses, like the field or rowdy crowd.

France's Clement Turpin refs, the same guy who oversaw Italy's playoff hard break to

North Macedonia four years back.

One solid 95 minutes could end Italy's drought, and spark a new era.

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