03/31/26 03:50:00
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03/31 15:48 CDT Italy-Bosnia World Cup playoff going to extra time at 1-1 with
Azzurri reduced to 10 men
Italy-Bosnia World Cup playoff going to extra time at 1-1 with Azzurri reduced
to 10 men
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
It's a decisive day for one of soccer's historic powers.
Struggling Italy is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European qualifying
playoffs on Tuesday with the four-time champion desperate not to miss out on a
third straight World Cup.
The match was headed to extra time with the score 1-1 and Italy down to 10 men.
Moise Kean scored early on for Italy but then Azzurri center back Alessandro
Bastoni was sent off with a direct red card before the break and Bosnia
substitute Haris Tabakovic equalized in the 79th.
Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia in qualifying playoffs for
the last two World Cups and has not appeared at soccer's biggest event since
2014.
In last week's European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0.
Bosnia eliminated Wales in a penalty shootout.
In Tuesday's other European playoff finals, Sweden and Turkey each qualified.
Sweden beat Poland 3-2 and Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0. The Czech Republic vs.
Denmark game was also locked at 1-1 and heading to extra time.
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