Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy

The stakes couldn't be higher in Zenica. Bosnia & Herzegovina host Italy in the World Cup play-off final, with a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup up for grabs. For the Azzurri, it's a haunting stage — they've missed the last two tournaments via this exact route. Bosnia ride a wave of emotion after their penalty shootout heroics against Wales, where 40-year-old Edin Džeko scored a dramatic late equaliser. Italy looked composed in their 2-0 semifinal win over Northern Ireland, with Newcastle's Sandro Tonali delivering a goal and an assist. Young Inter striker Pio Esposito could get the nod up front after Mateo Retegui struggled for sharpness. The Azzurri will be without Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, while Gianluca Scamacca nurses an adductor problem. Bosnia have a fully fit squad and the raucous Bilino Polje atmosphere as their extra man. Italy's superior quality should just edge this, but a hostile crowd and a fired-up Bosnia side won't make it easy. Our prediction: 1-2