Italy chase World Cup spot as Kosovo bid to make debut

PARIS – Four-time World Cup winners Italy hope to end a 12-year absence from football’s biggest stage on March 31, while Kosovo are dreaming of a first appearance at a major tournament.

Here is a look at the four World Cup play-off finals that will decide the last four European qualifiers for the 48-team tournament.

Bosnia & Herzegovina v Italy

Gennaro Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner, is trying to lead Italy back to the tournament after the Azzurri missed out on the 2018 and 2022 editions, but they can expect a hostile atmosphere in Zenica.

Italy players were caught on camera celebrating when Bosnia beat Wales in the semi-finals on March 26, although Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco insisted no disrespect was intended. That incident has set the stage for a fiery encounter.

The possibility of Italy missing a third consecutive World Cup has grabbed the headlines, and their last participation in 2014 coincided with Bosnia’s sole appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Italy fell in the play-offs for the 2018 and 2022 editions, while Bosnia’s record is equally bleak.

They lost at this stage for the 2010 World Cup and have missed out in the play-offs for the last four European Championships.

Regardless, Gattuso has warned his players against complacency.

“There are a lot of experienced players in the Bosnia team... Bosnia close up well, rely on their strikers, so it’ll be another very difficult game,” he said.

One of Bosnia’s strikers is 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, who scored a late equaliser against Wales and spent almost a decade playing in the Italian Serie A.

He went to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil – his country’s first as an independent nation.

The team’s all-time leading scorer with 73 goals says Italy are “big favourites” to take the final spot in Group B, which includes Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

Sweden v Poland

Viktor Gyokeres stepped up in the absence of the injured Alexander Isak to lead Sweden past Ukraine and to the cusp of just a second World Cup in 20 years.

Graham Potter’s Sweden, whose win over Ukraine was their first of the qualifying campaign, will be at home in Stockholm against a Poland side seeking to go to a third successive World Cup.

Robert Lewandowski scored his 89th international goal on March 26 as Poland came from behind to beat Albania in the semi-finals.

The winner of this tie will go into Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

Kosovo v Turkey

Kosovo, the lowest-ranked team to make the play-offs, are potentially 90 minutes away from reaching a first major tournament, a decade on from their admission to UEFA and FIFA.

They edged out Slovakia 4-3 in Bratislava to set up a clash with Turkey, who have not played at the World Cup since a surprise third-place finish in 2002. Turkey beat Romania 1-0 with a goal from Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu.

“We are in euphoria right now but we need to play the last game with calm,” said Kosovo coach Franco Foda.

Kosovo will have home advantage in Pristina against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey. A place in Group D alongside the United States, Australia and Paraguay awaits the winner.

Czech Republic v Denmark

The Czechs rallied from two goals down to get past the Republic of Ireland on penalties, and will stay in Prague as a fancied Denmark attempt to crash the party.

Denmark missed out on automatic qualification after a dramatic defeat in Scotland in November, but four second-half goals saw them comfortably brush aside North Macedonia in Copenhagen to stay in the hunt.

The Czech Republic last went to the World Cup in 2006, while Denmark have played at three of the last four finals.

The winning team will complete Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. AFP, REUTERS