All four play-off finals carry great weight, but the focus is on the duel in Zenica, where Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy meet.
The "Azure" won the World Cup in Germany in 2006, but then failed to make it past the group stage, and they also missed the two previous World Cups - in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. The year before, they won the EURO for the second time in history, defeating England at Wembley.
For a team of such renown, this represents a serious setback, so it is no surprise that the Italian media is labeling this match as one of the most important in recent times – another failure would be a huge blow for the football superpower.
"It will certainly be a disappointment if we don't go to the World Cup, I will take responsibility, and those in charge will know what to do with me. Our thoughts are focused on how we will play, we are not thinking about not going to the World Cup, but only about our game," said Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.
The media from "Apennines" are not very enthusiastic about the "Bilino Polje" stadium in Zenica, so you could read some of the headlines like "Tall grass", "rusty floodlights", "dilapidated stands", etc...
However, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso disagrees with the local media.
"I think the pitch is just an alibi and an excuse. If it's ugly for us, then it's ugly for everyone, we need to play and not think about it. Weakness is thinking about it, we need to think about the game. I've played with Hajduk on much worse pitches than this before. The pitch is good, even if it's bad, we have to play. We have to think about the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, not the pitch," said the popular Rino.
The importance of the match was also acknowledged by the Azzurri's first goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
"This is one of the most important matches in my international career. There is concern, we have feelings like all living beings, but we need to know how to manage those feelings. Only when we give our maximum will we know that we have done everything we could," said the Manchester City goalkeeper.
On the other hand, the "Dragons" are looking for their second participation in the World Cup in history, having previously performed in 2014 in Brazil.
Sergej Barbarez's team, led by veteran Edin Dzeko, eliminated Wesley in the semifinals in the middle of Cardiff, and are now ready for a match of truth.
The captain of the "Dragons" and the team's first star, Džeko, spent several years in Italy and knows most of the players very well.
"The Italians know me well, but I also know most of the players who will play tomorrow because I played with them at Roma, Inter and Fiorentina. Knowing the Italians, I know that they will analyze us well and will not underestimate us," believes the popular Dijamant.
The German Schalke striker has recently believed in progress.
"We want to win. Every game brings something new. I want us to be at our highest level and that's what's most important," said Džeko.
A lot of dust was raised by the video of Italians watching the penalty shootout in Cardiff and then rejoicing over BiH's progress.
"We all have some preferences about who we would like to play with, that's normal for me, sometimes you have to be smarter in some situations because today in the era of social media, things go from normal to something else," briefly commented the Bosnia and Herzegovina striker who scored the only goal in Wales, and interestingly, he scored for the national team in each of the 20 years of his career.
What could decide?
"As before the game in Wales, a huge dose of courage will be an important factor. Especially, entering the game. Winning a duel, a sliding start, a good shot - small things will be of great importance and can connect us more with the audience. That way, it will raise the emotion and momentum of the race and the fight. It can't give them anything new because they've been through everything, but for us it will be a big thing," said BiH coach Sergej Barbarez.
The fifty-four-year-old expert from Mostar spoke in his own unique way about how the team would play if they were leading, and how if they were the first to concede a goal.
"If we lead, we'll park the bus in front of our goal. If we lose, we'll park the bus in front of their goal, it's that simple. I also like what's happening here. It's not just support anymore, it's simply love that's resurfacing and reborn for the national team, the players and the country. I consider that the greatest success. We'll see what the pitch brings," Barbarez pointed out.
The winner of this match will play in Group B with one of the hosts, Canada, as well as Switzerland and the host of the previous World Cup, Qatar.
According to the announcements, the match will be followed live from the stands by the best tennis player of all time, Novak Djokovic.
Interestingly, the main referee of the match between BiH and Italy will be Frenchman Clemon Turpan, who also administered justice to the Italians four years ago when they were shockingly eliminated by North Macedonia in the play-off final.
KOSOVO ZA ISTORIJU, KURTI OBEĆAO MILION EURA IGRAČIMA
The colors of the region are also being defended by the Kosovo national team, which will be chasing a historic World Cup berth against Turkey in Pristina.
According to numerous media reports, Kosovo's football players received 500,000 euros from the Kosovo Government after their victory in Bratislava over Slovakia (4:3), and in the event of a triumph against Turkey, Prime Minister Albin Kurti promised an additional million euros.
Vicenza Montella's team beat Romania in the semi-finals and are the favorites in tonight's match, but it won't be easy for them against a motivated rival and a home crowd.
YOU'RE JOKING AT LEWANDOWSKI
In the remaining play-off final matches, the Czech Republic and Denmark will meet in Prague, while Sweden and Poland will face off in Solna.
Svjetsko prvenstvo u SAD, Kanadi i Meksiku na programu je od 11. juna do 19. jula na kojem će se prvi put naći 48 reprezentacija.
SCHEDULE
ZENICA Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy
PRAGUE Czech Republic – Denmark
SOLNA Sweden – Poland
PRISTINA Kosovo – Turkey
All matches start at 8:45 p.m.
