ROME (AP) 鈥� If is going to qualify for its first World Cup in 12 years, the Azzurri鈥檚 defenders are going to have to contain a striker they respect and know well.
Bosnia and Herzegovina鈥檚 40-year-old forward has been a club teammate of all three of Italy鈥檚 starting defenders.
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.
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鈥檚 playoff final against the four-time World Cup champion.
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 鈥� where Italy’s defenders often struggle.
鈥淓din is a great player and a great person,鈥� Dimarco said. 鈥淚 saw him on vacation over the summer and I鈥檝e maintained a nice relationship with him.鈥�
Dimarco will have to momentarily set aside the relationship, though, with Italy desperate to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.
Italy was eliminated by and , respectively, in qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.
In last week’s European playoff semifinals, Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0.
Tuesdays鈥� other playoff finals are: Sweden vs. Poland; Turkey vs. Kosovo; and Denmark vs. the Czech Republic.
Bosnia stadium
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.
The stadium鈥檚 capacity will be reduced by 20% following punishment from FIFA for discriminatory and racist abuse by fans during Bosnia鈥檚 game against Romania in November.
Italy is concerned over the status of the stadium鈥檚 pitch after a recent snowfall in Bosnia.
鈥淲e鈥檙e expecting a difficult atmosphere,鈥� Dimarco said. 鈥淏ut if we鈥檙e able to remain in the right frame of mind for 95 minutes, I think we can get the result.鈥�
Added Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso: 鈥淚f it鈥檚 in rough shape then it鈥檚 rough for them, too. It鈥檚 a weakness to look for alibis. I think the pitch suffices. What matters is our mental approach and attitude.鈥�
Italians caught cheering
Bosnia has seized upon video footage of Italy鈥檚 players celebrating after seeing the victory over Wales 鈥� as if they considered Bosnia an easier opponent than Wales.
鈥淚t was an instinctive reaction,鈥� Dimarco said. 鈥淚 certainly did not disrespect either Bosnia or Bosnians.鈥�
The referee for the match in Bosnia will be Clement Turpin of France, who was also in charge when Italy was beaten at home by North Macedonia 1-0 in the playoff semifinals four years ago.
鈥淲e all have our preferences. Mine was not to play against Italy,鈥� Dzeko said on Monday. 鈥淚f they鈥檙e afraid of playing in Wales, there鈥檚 something wrong. Maybe they鈥檒l struggle a lot with this match, too, because they鈥檙e playing to make up for the two World Cups they missed. It means they鈥檙e afraid.鈥�
Dimarco’s production
Dimarco has been a consistent force on the left wing for Serie A leader Inter this season with six goals and 15 assists.
The only World Cup he鈥檚 played in was the under-20 version in 2017 when Italy finished third with Dimarco scoring in the quarterfinals.
鈥淚鈥檝e always said that goals and assists don鈥檛 interest me unless they help the team achieve results,鈥� Dimarco said.
Esposito for Retegui?
Italy鈥檚 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鈥檚 place alongside Moise Kean in Bosnia.
Dimarco also plays with Esposito at Inter.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a special kid,鈥� Dimarco said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 mature for his age and always gives 100% 鈥� both in matches and in training. 鈥� He just needs to be left alone and we shouldn鈥檛 put too much pressure on him.鈥�
Italy’s lost generation
The pressure is on Italy since an entire generation 鈥� basically anyone under 15 鈥� has no memory of the last time the Azzurri played in the World Cup. An elimination loss to Uruguay in 2014 in Brazil is mostly remembered for Luis Suarez鈥檚 bite of Giorgio Chiellini鈥檚 shoulder.
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.
鈥淲e all know what we鈥檙e playing for,鈥� Politano said. 鈥淔or me, and for a few of the other senior players, it鈥檚 probably our last chance.鈥�
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This story has been corrected to show Bosnia’s stadium capacity punishment was handed out by FIFA, not UEFA.
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