FOOTBALL – Italy’s World Cup exile continues after they fell to a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in their playoff final last night following a 1-1 draw.
Four-time champions Italy had lost out at the playoff stage to miss the last two World Cups, and their last qualification in 2014 coincided with Bosnia’s only previous appearance.
Italy got off to the perfect start, with Moise Kean putting them ahead in the 15th minute, but had Alessandro Bastoni sent off four minutes before the break to raise the hopes of the home side.
Bosnia levelled 11 minutes from time through Haris Tabakovic and both Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties while the hosts made no mistake from the spot to repeat their semi-final shootout win over Wales.
Meanwhile, Türkiye ended a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final, sealing a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002.
Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in the 53rd minute to settle a tense contest in Pristina, where the hosts had been hoping to reach their first-ever World Cup.
Türkiye, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and arrived under pressure to deliver, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging talents and experienced internationals.
Sweden beat Poland 3-2 to book their ticket to the World Cup, as Viktor Gyokeres struck two minutes from time to decide a frantic qualification playoff final.
Anthony Elanga’s opener for Sweden was cancelled out by Nicola Zalewski’s equaliser but Gustaf Lagerbielke’s 44th-minute strike restored the hosts’ advantage and ensured they entered the break ahead.
Despite Karol Swiderski drawing the visitors level again shortly after the interval, Gyokeres capitalised on a late goalmouth scramble to side-foot home the winner.
The Czech Republic clinched a spot in the World Cup by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after an absorbing encounter in which they led in normal time and extra time.
The Czechs were pegged back to 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and 2-2 after the extra period before winning the shootout to reach their first World Cup since 2006 to delight the home fans.
The hosts – who beat Ireland in a shootout in the playoff semi-finals last week – stunned Denmark when Pavel Sulc found the top corner with a first-time strike after three minutes.
The visitors levelled in the 72nd through a Joachim Andersen header before Czech captain Ladislav Krejci and Denmark’s Kasper Hogh scored in extra time to send the match to penalties.
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