Arrivederci azzuri: BiH through penalty-roulette to the second World Cup in history

Izabranici Sergeja Barbareza večeras su u prelijepom ambijentu na „Bilinom polju“ u Zenici eliminisali velesilu Italiju, nakon velike borbe i penal-ruleta 4:1 (1:1 u regularnom dijelu i poslije 120 minuta).

„Azuri“ su poveli u 14. minutu golom Mojsa Kina, ali su od finiša prvog poluvremena igrali sa desetoricom. BiH je do zasluženog izjednačenja stigla u 79. minutu preko Harisa Tabakovića, a potom u penal seriji izborila prolaz na planetarni šampionat.

Italija će tako propustiti i treći uzastopni Mundijal, što predstavlja ogroman neuspjeh za četvorostrukog svjetskog prvaka, a zanimljivo da drugi put zaredom ispadaju od selekcija iz bivše Jugoslavije, pošto ih je prije četiri godine u finalu baraža eliminisala Sjeverna Makedonija.

Nakon što u produžecima nije bilo pogodaka, uslijedili su penali u kojima su baš kao i prije četiri dana protiv Velsa u Kardifu, uspješnije bile naše komšije sa 4:1. Pogađali su redom Tahirović, Tabaković, Alajbegović i Barjaktarević. Na drugoj strani precizan je bio samo Tonali, Esposito je u prvoj seriji šutirao preko gola, dok je Kristante u trećoj pogodio okvir gola.

The Azzurri took the lead in the 14th minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. The Saint Pauli goalkeeper misfired the ball, which reached Nikola Barela, who immediately played it to Moise Kean, who scored from about 18 meters.

It was as if the goal conceded had awakened the sleeping "dragons" who then created a large number of chances and half-chances in front of the opponent's goal, but Edin Džeko, Ivan Šunjić and Ermedin Demirović scored twice, but the result did not change.

Five minutes before the mandatory break, Italy was down to ten men. Amar Memić dived for goal, and then Alessandro Bastoni, as the last defender, brought him down from behind – Clemon Turpan had no dilemma, immediately showing the Inter defender the way to the locker room.

Right after that break, which was taken by Esmir Barjaktarevic, Nikola Katić attempted a header, but the ball almost went wide of the goal.

Deep into stoppage time of the first half, Memić had a great chance, but his header was almost inaccurate.

At half-time, Sergej Barbarez sent one of Cardiff's heroes, the talented Kerim Alajbegović, and Benjamin Tahirović onto the field.

Alajbegović was the one who threatened in the 51st minute, but Gianluigi Donnarumma was in the right place.

The lead goal scorer had the opportunity to settle things seven minutes later – Bašić made a mistake, and Kin dived for the goal, practically alone, however, he shot almost over the bar and extended the hope for the home team.

In the 73rd minute, another substitute, Tahirović, came very close to scoring – he shot from the edge of the penalty area, the ball almost went into the small net, but Donnarumma made an excellent save. A few tens of seconds later, Pio Esposito shot from a good position over the goal, just three minutes after entering the field.

Five minutes later, Federico Dimarco had a chance, but from seven or eight meters away, he shot weakly and wide of the goal.

The penalty for the 2021 European champions' mistakes came in the 79th minute. Amar Dedić crossed, Džeko's shot was somehow saved by Donnarumma, but Haris Tabaković found the right spot, who had no difficulty in passing the ball into the net from close range and scoring just eight minutes after entering the game. The Italian bench called for a foul in attack, but everything was clear.

Three minutes before the regular time, Demirović tried with his head, but once again Donaruma was up to the task.

In extra time, both teams had one good chance each – one by Esposito, but Vasilj saved, the other by Tahirović's shot from the edge of the penalty area that flew just wide of the post.

U penal-seriji e već na opisani način slavila Bosna za veliku radost domaćih navijača, a nema sumnje da će se večeras, ali i u narednim danima širom BiH slaviti ovaj ogroman uspjeh.

BiH will play in Group B at the World Cup with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

ČEŠKA NA SVJETSKOM PRVENSTVU NAKON DVIJE DECENIJE

Češka je nakon pune dvije decenije izborlila plasman na Mundijal, pošto je večeras u Pragu bila bolja od Danske, takođe poslije penala – 3:1 (2:2).

Lyon midfielder Pavel Schulz gave the home team the lead in the third minute.

The Scandinavians achieved a well-deserved equalizer through Joakim Andersen in the 72nd minute.

Extra time followed, and in the 100th minute Ladislav Krejči scored for 2:1.

The Danes did not give up, and won the penalty shootout with a goal from Kasper Hogg in the 111th minute.

For the Czechs, Hori, Soucek and Sadilek scored, while only Krejci was inaccurate. On the other side, only Eriksen scored, while Hojlund, Drejer and Jensen missed.

The Czech Republic will play in Group A at the World Cup with Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

Mundijal u SAD, Meksiku i Kanadi počinje 11. juna, a finale je 19. jula.