Italy loses to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the playoffs, missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive year | Soccer News

Italy, a 10-a-side team, lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties in the playoffs, missing out on their third consecutive World Cup appearance.

Italy, which missed out on Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, became the first former champions to miss out on three consecutive World Cups.

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali became the only player to score a penalty for the four-time winners as Bosnia and Herzegovina took advantage of Alessandro Bastoni’s sending off in the first half to net all four of their penalties.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side took the lead in the 15th minute when Moise Kean took advantage of a mistake by Bosnian goalkeeper Nicolas Vasili and took the lead.

However, Bastoni was sent off in the 41st minute for a last-man foul on Amar Memmic, and substitute Haris Tabakovic scored the equalizer in the 79th minute.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are playing in their second World Cup after first appearing in 2014, will be placed in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Italy’s defeat ensures that they will be absent from the World Cup for at least 16 years, with their last final round of the tournament being the 2006 final against France, which they won on penalties.

The Azzurri failed to advance from the group stage in their last two games and have not even qualified since.

The only World Cup in which Italy did not qualify was in 1958.

Gokeres’ late winner sends Potters Sweden to the World Cup

Viktor Gökeres scored a late victory over Poland 3-2 to send Sweden into this summer’s tournament.

Poland came from behind twice in Stockholm as goals from Nikola Zalewski and Karol Swiderski canceled out goals from Anthony Elanga and Gustav Lagerbielke.

However, Arsenal striker Gökeres sealed the play-off with two minutes left in the game when Besfort Zenelli’s shot hit the right post and into the roof of the net.

Graham Potter’s team will be in North America’s Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

The Czech Republic defeated Denmark 3-1 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 2-2 draw after extra time, qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Rasmus Højlund, Anders Dreyer and Matthias Jensen missed out on representing Denmark in Prague.

Pavel Suluk’s goal put the Czechs ahead, and it took Joachim Andersen another 30 minutes to seal the win.

Ladislav Krejci’s deflected finish gave the home side the lead, but Kasper Ho’s header leveled the score and the match went to penalties.

The Czech Republic will face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.

Kosovo’s dream of appearing in the World Cup for the first time was dashed with a 1-0 home defeat to Turkey.

In Pristina, Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal made the difference, with Turkey advancing to Group D, co-hosted by the United States, Paraguay and Australia.

Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq are the final two countries to qualify for the World Cup.

The Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Jamaica 1-0 in the intercontinental play-off final in Mexico on Tuesday to book their first World Cup appearance since 1974.

Despite DR Congo striker Cedric Bakambu’s shot being ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee, the match went into extra time after a scoreless finish, but Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe scored the winning goal in the final 100 minutes at the Guadalajara Stadium.

As a result, DR Congo will advance to this summer’s tournament, where they will be drawn alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.

Iraq will also be added to the US. Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff on Tuesday to become the 48th and final country to qualify for the World Cup.

Goals from Ali Al Hammadi and Aymen Hussein saw Graham Arnold’s side qualify for their first World Cup since 1986, joining the likes of France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.