Bosnia beats Italia on penalties, Azzurri still out of the World Cup

No World Cup. For the third time in a row. Zenica like Milan and like Palermo. To the World Cup goes Bosnia, young, strong-willed, technical. We are preparing for another summer on the couch, and a knockout that pushes us towards global football indifference. An anonymity that is worse than any hell, for our football. A night of pride, mistakes, emotions, failure, that of the Azzurri on Bosnian soil. Now the problem will not be to restart, but how and with whom to do it.

Overseas View - A few whistles, much more applause greeted the Azzurri on the Bilino Polje pitch from the pre-warm-up. Bedlam it was to be, and bedlam it is, but with a smile on the lips of the many Bosnians we met on the streets around the den of Barbarez's men. The home coach launches Basic, the Astana midfielder - instead of the expected Gigovic in the starting eleven; Gattuso confirms the team that beat the Northern Irish in Bergamo, with Kean and Retegui as the attacking pair and Politano on the right out. The lights of the buildings overlooking the stadium are all lit up, starry yellow and blue flags sprout from every balcony, then the fireworks. It is exciting to think that from here one can see New York, Mexico City and Montreal, cities that symbolise the World Cup to come.

Tactics and tension - At Turpin's whistle the chess match between Barbarez and Gattuso began. The Bosnians willingly left the ball to us, we often relied on long throws, which were difficult for Kean and Retegui to handle; more effective, as a pass, was Dzeko for his own. Suddenly, however, the Azzurri took the lead: Vasilj, pressured by Retegui, kicked a deflection onto the feet of Barella, who served Kean, who right-footed from the edge made it 0-1.

Reaction - Barbarez upped the tempo and pressing, Basic warmed Donnarumma's gloves; Retegui replied, this time Vasilj was alert. Barella, galvanised by the assist, grows and often looks for Dimarco on the left, where, however, Bajraktarevic presses him: in the 38th minute the talented Psv player crosses for Demirovic, whose header goes just wide. We seem torn between trying to turn the game off, and accepting the duel.

Direct red - Not even time to think about it, and Bastoni, on an uncertain defensive clearance, mows down Memic as a last man: direct red, and now at least we have the certainty that it will be impossible to anaesthetise this match. Memic himself, again with a header, came close to equalising in the 45th minute, while Gatti took Retegui's place.