{"id":455,"date":"2026-03-30T10:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T10:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/455\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:20:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T10:20:21","slug":"edin-dzeko-is-a-familiar-face-for-italys-defenders-in-world-cup-playoff-at-bosnia-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/455\/","title":{"rendered":"Edin Dzeko is a familiar face for Italy’s defenders in World Cup playoff at Bosnia"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROME (AP) \u2014 If Italy is going to qualify for its first World Cup in 12 years, the Azzurri\u2019s defenders are going to have to contain a striker they respect and know well.<\/p>\n

Bosnia and Herzegovina\u2019s 40-year-old forward Edin Dzeko has been a club teammate of all three of Italy\u2019s starting defenders.<\/p>\n

Click to Gallery<\/p>\n

\"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Matteo Politano, bottom, and Northern Ireland’s Brodie Spencer vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

\"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Moise Kean, left, and teammate Francesco Pio Esposito, right, celebrate after Kean scored his side’s second goal during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

\"Bosnia<\/p>\n

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Dzeko, left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side’s first goal during the World Cup playoff semifinal soccer match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nick Potts\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Federico Dimarco, right, celebrates with teammate Sandro Tonali who scored his side’s first goal during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

\"Bosnia<\/p>\n

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Dzeko, top right, scores their side’s first goal during the World Cup playoff semifinal soccer match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nick Potts\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

Dzeko played with Gianluca Mancini and Riccardo Calafiori while he was at Roma from 2015-21. Having then moved to Inter Milan, Dzeko teamed with Alessandro Bastoni on the squad that reached the 2023 Champions League final.<\/p>\n

Italy and Inter winger Federico Dimarco contacted Dzeko to congratulate him after Bosnia beat Wales in a penalty shootout last week to set up Tuesday\u2019s playoff final against the four-time World Cup champion.<\/p>\n

Dzeko’s headed equalizer in the second half against Wales was his 73rd international goal. At 6-foot-4 (1.93 meters), Dzeko excels in the air \u2014 where Italy’s defenders often struggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cEdin is a great player and a great person,\u201d Dimarco said. \u201cI saw him on vacation over the summer and I\u2019ve maintained a nice relationship with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dimarco will have to momentarily set aside the relationship, though, with Italy desperate to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.<\/p>\n

Italy was eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.<\/p>\n

In last week’s European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0.<\/p>\n

Tuesdays\u2019 other playoff finals are: Sweden vs. Poland; Turkey vs. Kosovo; and Denmark vs. the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

Bosnia has chosen to host the playoff in the 14,000-seat Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, which is surrounded by apartment towers overlooking the field.<\/p>\n

The stadium\u2019s capacity will be reduced by 20% following punishment from UEFA for discriminatory and racist abuse by fans during Bosnia\u2019s game against Romania in November.<\/p>\n

Italy is concerned over the status of the stadium\u2019s pitch after a recent snowfall in Bosnia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a difficult atmosphere,\u201d Dimarco said. \u201cBut if we\u2019re able to remain in the right frame of mind for 95 minutes, I think we can get the result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bosnia has seized upon video footage of Italy\u2019s players celebrating after seeing the victory over Wales \u2014 as if they considered Bosnia an easier opponent than Wales.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an instinctive reaction,\u201d Dimarco said. \u201cI certainly did not disrespect either Bosnia or Bosnians.\u201d<\/p>\n

The referee for the match in Bosnia will be Clement Turpin of France, who was also in charge when Italy was beaten 1-0 at home by North Macedonia in the playoff semifinals four years ago.<\/p>\n

Dimarco has been a consistent force on the left wing for Serie A leader Inter this season with six goals and 15 assists.<\/p>\n

The only World Cup he\u2019s played in was the Under-20 version in 2017 when Italy finished third with Dimarco scoring in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always said that goals and assists don\u2019t interest me unless they help the team achieve results,\u201d Dimarco said.<\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s attack got a boost in the second half against Northern Ireland when Pio Esposito replaced Mateo Retegui. Now the 20-year-old Esposito could start in Retegui\u2019s place alongside Moise Kean in Bosnia<\/p>\n

Dimarco also plays with Esposito at Inter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a special kid,\u201d Dimarco said. \u201cHe\u2019s mature for his age and always gives 100% \u2014 both in matches and in training. \u2026 He just needs to be left alone and we shouldn\u2019t put too much pressure on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pressure is on Italy since an entire generation \u2014 basically anyone under 15 \u2014 has no memory of the last time the Azzurri played in the World Cup \u2014 an elimination loss to Uruguay in 2014 in Brazil mostly remembered for Luis Suarez\u2019s bite of Giorgio Chiellini\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Just ask right winger Matteo Politano, who has won two Italian league titles at Napoli but at 32 has still never played in a World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know what we\u2019re playing for,\u201d Politano said. \u201cFor me, and for a few of the other senior players, it\u2019s probably our last chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/p>\n


\n \"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Matteo Politano, bottom, and Northern Ireland’s Brodie Spencer vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Moise Kean, left, and teammate Francesco Pio Esposito, right, celebrate after Kean scored his side’s second goal during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Bosnia<\/p>\n

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Dzeko, left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side’s first goal during the World Cup playoff semifinal soccer match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nick Potts\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Italy's<\/p>\n

Italy’s Federico Dimarco, right, celebrates with teammate Sandro Tonali who scored his side’s first goal during the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Bosnia<\/p>\n

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Dzeko, top right, scores their side’s first goal during the World Cup playoff semifinal soccer match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nick Potts\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

ABOARD AIRFORCE ONE (AP) \u2014 President Donald Trump on Sunday night said he has \u201cno problem\u201d with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba delivering relief to the island, which has been brought to its knees by a U.S. oil blockade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a tanker out there. We don\u2019t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need \u2026 they have to survive,\u201d Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington.<\/p>\n

When asked if a New York Times report that the tanker would be allowed to reach Cuba was true, Trump said: \u201cI told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it\u2019s Russia or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday, Russia’s Transport Ministry said the oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived at the Cuban port of Matanzas carrying \u201chumanitarian supplies\u201d of about 730,000 barrels of oil.<\/p>\n

The vessel is sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom following the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia had previously discussed its oil shipment to Cuba with the United States. \u201cRussia \u0441onsiders it its duty not to stand aside, but to provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n

Trump, whose government has come at its Caribbean adversary more aggressively than any U.S. government in recent history, has effectively cut Cuba off from key oil shipments in an effort to force regime change. The blockade has had devastating effects on the civilians Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say they want to help, leaving many desperate.<\/p>\n

Islandwide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.<\/p>\n

Experts say the anticipated shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to feed Cuba\u2019s daily demand for nine or 10 days.<\/p>\n

Islandwide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.<\/p>\n

Cuba has long been at the heart of geopolitical tug-of-war between the U.S. and Russia, dating back decades. Trump on Sunday dismissed the idea that allowing the boat to reach Cuba would help Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that\u2019s all it is. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, it doesn\u2019t bother me much,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to have an impact. Cuba\u2019s finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it\u2019s not going to matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI\u2019d prefer letting it in, whether it\u2019s Russia or anybody else because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Associated Press reporters Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City and Andrea Rodr\u00edguez contributed from Havana.<\/p>\n


\n \"A<\/p>\n

A man fill containers with potable water during a blackout in Havana, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ramon Espinosa)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Activists<\/p>\n

Activists from the vessel Maguro, that arrived from Mexico, unload solar panels and other humanitarian aid from the “Nuestra America,” or Our America convoy, at the port in Havana Bay, Cuba, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Jorge Luis Banos\/IPS via AP, Pool)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"People<\/p>\n

People spend the night in the dark on the Malecon during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ramon Espinosa)<\/p>\n

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