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BERLIN – JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Wales away on penalties in the World Cup play-off semifinal, setting up a Final with Italy next Tuesday.
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The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo on Tuesday night with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, while Bosnia needed penalties to earn a spot in the Final, beating Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Wales took the lead with Daniel James at minute 51, but ex-Fiorentina, Inter and Roma star Edin Dzeko sent the game to extra time with a late goal at minute 86. With no goals scored in the additional 30 minutes, the match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.
Wales’ Karl Darlow stopped Ermedin Demirović’s opening penalty, but Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams both faltered afterwards, Johnson blasting his shot over the bar and Williams denied by Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj. Kerim Alajbegović scored the decisive penalty, sending his national team to the Final against the Azzurri.
The World Cup play-off Final between Bosnia and Italy will be played at the Bilino Polje in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Tuesday, March 31. The kick-off time has yet to be determined, but it will either be at 18:00 CET or 20:45 CET.
Tonali was the Man of the Match for Italy against Northern Ireland tonight as he not only scored the opener, but also provided the assist for Kean.
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
