Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti has sent his best wishes to the Italy side ahead of their World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening and has given even more praise to his former Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, now at Milan: ‘There’s nobody like him on the world market’. 

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Ancelotti: ‘I hope Italy qualify, but I won’t be able to watch’

Italy will be in World Cup play-off final action away against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening, while Brazil, who have already qualified for the 2026 tournament, will take on Croatia in a friendly in Florida, USA, later on in the same night, kicking off at 1.00 BST in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Ancelotti told reporters: “I hope Italy qualify for the World Cup, but I won’t be able to watch the national team tomorrow. We have to prepare for our match against Croatia.” (via ANSA).

Among the opposition for Ancelotti’s Brazil in their upcoming friendly will be former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, who has excelled in Serie A at the age of 40 this season. 

“Modric can play in every position in the midfield, because he is a complete and modern player, one of the best players I have ever coached and a spectacular professional with an extraordinary passion for football,” Ancelotti said ahead of his reunion with the Rossoneri veteran. 

He concluded: “There is nobody like Modric on the world market.” 

The highly sought-after Nicolo Tresoldi still has three senior national team options available to him, but reports in Germany claim that Argentina are making attempts to pin down the talented 21-year-old, who was born in and is eligible to represent Italy. 

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Could Italy and Germany miss out on Tresoldi?

Tresoldi, who has 13 goals from 30 appearances to his name in the Belgian Pro League with Club Brugge this season, is eligible to represent Italy, Germany and Argentina at senior international level. 

The 21-year-old centre-forward was born in Italy to an Italian father, Emmanuele, who played for Atalanta, and an Argentine mother, but moved to Hanover with his family at the age of 11 and has since gone on to represent Germany at U19 and U21 level. He has 12 goals from 23 Germany U21 caps. 

According to BILD, who describe Tresoldi as Germany’s ‘greatest striking talent’, Argentina are in contact with the player’s entourage and are hoping to secure his services for their senior national team. 

There have, however, also been calls in Germany for Julian Nagelsmann to give the youngster an opportunity in their senior national side, calls that resurfaced after the 21-year-old netted a brace in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland’s U21s on Friday. 

Speaking in an interview in October, Tresoldi confirmed that he had not received any calls from the Italy set-up: “I’m not surprised Italy didn’t call me. Italy already has many great strikers, so there is a lot of competition for places there,” Tresoldi said in an interview with Il Messaggero. 

“Seeing as my mother is from Argentina, I even have the possibility of playing for them, but I have not made a decision yet.”

Italy boast, by far, the more valuable set of players compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of Tuesday night’s World Cup play-off final, and studies show that Gennaro Gattuso’s squad is worth 6.5x as much as the players available to Sergej Barbarez. 

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Italy will travel to Zenica this evening ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup play-off decider against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The Azzurri are ranked 12th in the world and are the highest-rated nation not to have a spot at the World Cup wrapped up. They beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo thanks to goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in order to qualify for Tuesday’s play-off final, while Bosnia took Wales to penalties and came through victorious after the shoot-out in Cardiff on Thursday evening. 

As was the case against Northern Ireland, Italy have the most valuable squad of the two sides competing in this play-off tie. The 28-man Azzurri squad is worth a combined €833.5m according to the latest information from transfermarkt.com, while Bosnia’s roster of 24 players comes out to €127.1m. 

The average market value of the Italy players in Gattuso’s squad is just shy of €30m, €29.77m to be precise, while Bosnia’s average equals €5.3m. 

Tonali is currently the most valuable player in the Italy camp, valued at €80m, followed by Alessandro Bastoni at €70m and then Riccardo Calafiori, Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco all at €50m. 

According to transfermarkt, VfB Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirovic is the most valuable player in the Bosnia side with a market  value of €22m, closely followed by Sassuolo’s Tariq Muharemovic at €20m, and then teenage talent Kerim Alajbegovic and Benfica full-back Amar Dedic, both at €15m. 

Top 10 most valuable Italy squad members

1. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) – €80m

2. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) – €70m

3. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) – €50m

3. Nicolo Barella (Inter) – €50m

3. Federico Dimarco (Inter) – €50m

6. Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter) – €45m

6. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) – €45m

8. Moise Kean (Fiorentina) – €40m

9. Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah) – €35m

9. Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli) – €35m

Top 10 most valuable Bosnia squad members

1. Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart) – €22m

2. Tariq Muharemovic (Sassuolo) – €20m

3. Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg) – €15m

3. Amar Dedic (Benfica) – €15m

5. Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta) – €6m

6. Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven) – €5m

7. Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli) – €4.5m

7. Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby) – €4.5m

7. Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen) – €4.5m

10. Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City) – €4.2m

Bosnia and Herzegovina national team captain Edin Dzeko has urged his nation’s supporters to ‘applaud’ Italy and the national anthem when the two sides meet in Tuesday’s World Cup play-off final: ‘Italy came to play friendly matches after the war in 1996. For this, we are always grateful’. 

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Dzeko: ‘Italy came to play friendly matches after the Bosnian war, we are always grateful’

The Azzurri will travel to the freezing Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina for a spot in the final 2026 World Cup tournament. Gennaro Gattuso’s side are the highest-ranked nation in the World that do not yet have a place at the World Cup wrapped up, and will need to beat Bosnia away from home to avoid missing out for a third tournament cycle in a row.

Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo thanks to second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in order to qualify for Tuesday’s play-off final, while Dzeko struck with an equaliser in the 86th minute, which sent Bosnia on their way to a penalty shoot-out victory over Wales in Cardiff on the same night. 

There has been plenty of talk from both camps ahead of the crucial play-off decider on Tuesday evening, but Dzeko has called for a show of respect towards Italy and its national team given its previous gestures of goodwill to Bosnia during times of adversity. 

“Everyone should stand up and applaud when the Italian anthem begins. Italy came to play friendly matches after the Bosnian war in 1996. For this, we are always grateful,” said Dzeko during his pre-match press conference. 

“Then in 90 minutes, it will be a battle. Friends afterwards, like before. Whatever happens, happens.” 

Click here to read Dzeko’s pre-match press conference in full.

Italy have played against Bosnia and Herzegovina on six previous occasions, winning four, drawing one and losing one. 

The loss came in the first ever meeting of the two sides back in 1996, when an Azzurri side led by Arrigo Sacchi travelled to Sarajevo to take part in a friendly shortly after the end of the Bosnian war. 

That team featured the likes of Paolo Maldini, Dino Baggio, Roberto Di Matteo, Gianfranzo Zola and Enrico Chiesa, the latter two combining for Italy’s only goal in an eventual 2-1 loss to the newly formed national side of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Every other meeting between Italy and Bosnia has come within the last seven years. They met twice in qualification for EURO 2020, both ending in victories for the Azzurri, twice in the 2020-21 Nations League campaign and once in an international friendly just before the start of EURO 2024.

Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez says that he has no issue with ‘parking the bus’ if Bosnia and Herzegovina take the lead against Italy in their World Cup play-off final on Tuesday night, but says that he expects the bus to be parked down at the other end of the pitch if the scores are reversed.

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Barbarez previews Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy play-off final

Bosnia will welcome Italy to Zenica for the decisive World Cup play-off final on Tuesday evening, kicking off at 19.45 BST. The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo to qualify on Thursday evening, while the hosts overcame Wales on penalties in Cardiff on the same night. 

Despite playing for an additional half hour on Thursday evening, Barbarez has confirmed that all of his players are fit and raring to go against Italy on Tuesday night. 

“Everyone is fine apart from the coach, who has lost his voice,” said Barbarez during his pre-match press conference. “We’ve had time to recover. The game was challenging but we’re happy. We hope to be able to hold on until the end.” 

• Read more: Dzeko warns: ‘If Italy are afraid to play in Wales, something isn’t working’

Reporters at Barbarez’s press conference asked him what he made of the suggestion that the Bosnia national team is ‘too slow’. 

He replied: “Preparing for the game includes analysing how to play. What matters is my players and how they play tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what others think or what others have said.” 

Reviewing his side’s penalty shoot-out victory over Wales in Cardiff last week, Barbarez added: “The game against Wales was full of emotions. We had a lot of energy and that was the biggest mistake. Now we feel smarter and we won’t make the same mistakes again. Tomorrow is another day, whatever happens, you have to live with it.

“There are so many feelings for Italy, it’s so important for them, but also for us. Given the situation in the country, it’s even more important.” 

And what has Barbarez made of the Italy national team from his analysis thus far. 

“We will have to have courage and pay attention to the details, play at our best,” he said. “We can’t create any panicked situations and might need a bit of luck to score a few goals.

“If we score and it’s 1-0 for us, we’ll park the bus at one end of the pitch, otherwise, we’ll park it at the other end. Let’s start the game first. I’m happy to have made it this far. I feel and see the love that comes from these players.” 

Lastly, Barbarez admitted that he is unlikely to make any surprise changes to his line-up or set-up approaching the Italy decider: “We’ve been playing with a consistent system for a year and a half, I don’t know if it’s the time for experiments.” 

Edin Dzeko says that he has taken no issue with the video clip of Federico Dimarco and Guglielmo Vicario celebrating Bosnia’s penalty shoot-out victory against Wales, but has warned that if Italy are ‘afraid’ to play away in Cardiff, then ‘something isn’t working’. 

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Dzeko ‘would have preferred to not play against Italy in this final’

Italy and Bosnia will meet in Zenica on Tuesday evening for a place at the 2026 World Cup tournament after wins for the against Northern Ireland and Wales in their respective semi-finals on Thursday evening. 

Italy is the highest ranked nation in the world that does not yet have a spot at the World Cup wrapped up, and will now have to take on the freezing temperatures and hostile atmosphere at the reduced-capacity Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Tuesday night. 

Minor off-pitch ‘controversies’ have cropped up for Italy in the days leading up to their play-off final, including a viral video clip of Dimarco, Vicario and a handful of their national team colleagues celebrating Bosnia’s penalty shoot-out victory over Wales on Thursday night. 

• Read more: Dimarco unwise to celebrate, but televising incident only hurts Italy

The video was met with mixed reactions, with some accusing the Azzurri stars of being too ‘arrogant’ or lacking respect for their upcoming opponents. 

“Thank goodness the focus has shifted to the other side,” said Dzeko when asked about the clip during his pre-match press conference in Sarajevo on Monday (via TMW). 

“Everyone has their own preferences, who they want to play against and who they don’t. You have to be smart, especially today with social media, because everything can slide in a different direction. But for me, this is all normal.” 

Dzeko was asked about the now infamous video clip for a second time during his press conference. He says that he ‘doesn’t know why’ Italy didn’t want to play against Wales, and says that something must be up if a side like the Azzurri fear the thought of having to play away in Cardiff. 

“We all saw what happened,” Dzeko said. “I’ll tell you honestly that it’s a very normal thing. Like I said before, we all have our preferences. Mine might have been to not play against Italy in this final. I can’t celebrate because I’m playing against them. 

“But obviously today we have to be careful. We saw it. Italy didn’t want to play in Wales, I don’t know why. We went there without fear and we won. I don’t know why Italy should be afraid of Wales or Bosnia. They have an incredible national team, which has won four World Cups. If they’re afraid to play in Wales, something isn’t working. 

“Maybe we have to see if they can suffer in this way in this game as well. A lot is at stake after missing two World Cups. It means that they’re afraid. Dimarco wrote to me saying that he didn’t want to offend anyone and I told him what we’re talking about now. There’s no problem.” 

And on his own country, Dzeko said: “What we want is to win, but we still have to prepare well and play to the maximum. Italians will have prepared well because it is important for them as well.

“I’m sure that Italy won’t underestimate us, especially not after the statements from Dimarco and Vicario. Nobody was happy with how things went. We have to show our quality, we play at home and we’re focusing a lot on the fans.” 

Dzeko spent close to a decade of his career playing in Serie A, but has since left Fiorentina to play for Schalke in the 2.Bundesliga, his first time back in Germany since leaving VfL Wolfsburg for Manchester City in 2011.

“German and Italian football have nothing in common,” Dzeko said. “With the former, intensity prevails. This is what is missing in the Italian game and it is also pointed out by journalists. Maybe they don’t do well for this reason. I expect a tactical game. Italy have also missed the last two World Cups.” 

Dzeko also spoke about the previous conversations he has had with Italy national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso. 

“I saw him at the match in Florence, Fiorentina vs. Milan,” Dzeko recalled. 

“I told him ‘Mister, I hope to see you in Bosnia’ and here we are. We’ll see each other in a very important game for both countries. I have a lot of friends in Italy, there will be a lot of respect before and after the game. 

“Everyone must stand up and applaud when the Italian anthem begins. Italy came to play friendly matches after the Bosnian war in 1996. For this, we are always grateful. Then in 90 minutes, it will be a battle. Friends afterwards, like before. Whatever happens, happens.” 

Romelu Lukaku has explained himself after his absence from Napoli training during the international break, and has admitted that he hasn’t been at 100% for the majority of the 2025-26 season: ‘It took a toll mentally’. 

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Reports in Italy over the last week claim that Napoli were left angered after Lukaku took the decision to stay in Belgium to train individually during the international break, without the club’s permission. 

It has been a miserable season for Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer, who will go into April with just seven appearances and 64 minutes worth of club action to his name. 

He picked up an injury during Napoli’s final pre-season friendly of the summer, which kept him sidelined until January, and since then, ‘Big Rom’ has struggled to get himself back to full fitness and has failed to surpass Rasmus Hojlund in the Partenopei pecking order. 

What did Lukaku say about missing Napoli training?

Lukaku, who remains in Belgium and is expected to stay in his homeland for the rest of the international break, has since given his reasons in a post published to his Instagram story. 

“This season has been a lot for me from dealing with the injury and the personal loss. I know there has been a lot of noise about my situation in the last few days and it’s important to clarify the whole situation,” the statement read. 

“The truth is the last few weeks I wasn’t feeling right physically and I had it checked out while I was in Belgium and it showed me that there was an inflammation and liquid on my hip flexor muscle next to my scar tissue since it is the 2nd problem I had since coming back early November.

“I chose to do the rehab in Belgium so I can help the when called upon. I think most of you saw the interview I did in Verona. There’s nothing more I would love to do than play and win my team. But right now I have to male sure I am clinically 100% cause I haven’t been recently and it took a toll mentally. 

“It’s been a lot this year. But in the end I will get there and help Napoli and national team to their respective objectives when called upon. That’s all I want.”

Reports in Italy claim that Juventus could target a move for Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte this summer, and that the Old Lady will watch the Uruguayan in action against Algeria in an international friendly at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday evening. 

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Could Juventus make a summer move for United’s Ugarte?

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ugarte is a midfielder that Juventus have followed for several years, dating back to his time with Sporting CP. 

Monday’s report claims that the Bianconeri have since made several attempts to bring Ugarte to Turin, both during his time with Paris Saint-Germain and with Manchester United. 

The interest remains, and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Juventus could make a move for the Uruguay international this summer, particularly in the event that Teun Koopmeiners is let go at some stage during the summer transfer window. 

Galatasaray are said to be interested in Koopmeiners, and are also potentially looking at Ugarte as a back-up option. 

Juventus will also have an opportunity to watch Ugarte up close for themselves when he and his international teammates step out onto the Allianz Stadium pitch for a friendly against Algeria on Tuesday evening. 

Bianconeri director Marco Ottolini is expected to attend and will be keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old, who cost Manchester United a fee of €50m two summers ago.

Manuel Locatelli has become the target of criticism from some Juventus supporters on social media after going for dinner with a number of Inter first-team stars while away in camp with the Italy national team. 

Some Juventus fans angered by Locatelli dinner with Inter and Italy teammates

Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in their World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday evening, and will now be tasked with an away match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night as they look to secure a place at the final 2026 tournament. 

The Azzurri players were given a night off on Friday, the day after the Northern Ireland victory, and a number of Gennaro Gattuso’s players were photographed having dinner together at the Ristorante Tullio near to Italy’s Coverciano training base in Florence. 

There were a core of Inter players in attendance: Pio Esposito, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni were photographed, along with Juventus captain Locatelli and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who has been strongly linked with a move to join the Nerazzurri from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

However, the fact that Locatelli decided to sit down and agree to be photographed with a number of Inter players, Juventus’s fiercest rivals, has angered a number of Bianconeri supporters on social media. 

Tensions between the two clubs have been particularly intense over the last two months following the fiery Derby d’Italia between the two sides in February, when Alessandro Bastoni escaped punishment for diving, and instead passionately celebrated the incorrect decision to send off Juve’s Pierre Kalulu. 

One supporter on X wrote: “Today’s Juventus perfectly represented by its captain. After tough seasons, he was regaining his place in the hearts of the fans. Then, you see him in a photo with ‘those’ guys who took you for a ride just one month ago.” 

“What sort of a captain,” one supporter questioned. Another wrote: “And this is the captain of Juventus FC. Get out of here you piece of human s***.”

Another Juventus supporter labelled Locatelli’s association with the Inter players as a “crime of friendship.”

Unsurprisingly, some Inter supporters have taken the opportunity to goad some of their rival supporters, with comments such as “the worst player in the world surrounded by the strongest,” or, more kindly “Welcome to Inter 2026-27, Locatelli.” 

Not all Juventus supporters agree on the Locatelli photo, though. Some feel that the suggestion that their captain is some sort of ‘traitor’ because he went for dinner with some of his international teammates is ridiculous. 

“You know that supporters like you are the reason why we haven’t won anything for years,” one fan replied to one of the aforementioned posts.

“It’s difficult to find a stupider post than this one, but there you have it. Another example of how part of the Juventus fanbase has sunk even lower in these recent years without victories,” another added. 

“Next time they’re in camp, he’ll only talk to Cambiaso and Gatti to improve the vibe in the dressing room. Poor Kean, though, he’ll end up talking to the walls given that he doesn’t have any teammates from Fiorentina,” an Inter fan jokingly suggested.

Federico Gatti says that Italy have to block out distractions, keep the talking to a minimum and focus on themselves heading into Tuesday evening’s crucial World Cup play-off final away against Bosnia and Herzegovina: ‘We will play for the nation’. 

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Italy are two days away from their decisive World Cup play-off final away against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will determine whether the national team qualifies for the final tournament or misses out for the third cycle in a row. 

The Azzurri have not qualified for the World Cup since 2014 and have not played in a knock-out game at the tournament since beating France in the final to win the whole thing back in 2006. 

Gennaro Gattuso’s side finished second in their qualifying group behind Norway, which condemned them to the play-offs for the third time in a row. They have since beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo, while Bosnia beat Wales on penalties to set up Tuesday’s play-off final tie. 

“The most important thing was to win and to get through to the final. Now we’ll give everything in this match, on the pitch or off it, we’re preparing as best as we can,” said Gatti in an interview with Rai Sport ahead of Tuesday’s play-off decider (via TMW). 

Gatti on Italy pressure, Bosnia hostility and Dzeko challenge

Italy got the job done with second half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean against Northern Ireland, but the first half did not make for particularly comfortable viewing for Azzurri supporters. Many have suggested that the ‘ghosts’ of their previous play-off semi-final defeat against North Macedonia in 2022 was starting to creep into some of the players’ minds. 

“I didn’t experience them personally, but there was and still is a certain atmosphere, the weight of a country on your shoulders,” Gatti said. “But we also need some lightness. We play a lot, but we have to approach this as best as possible without wasting too much energy in the days before.

“Now we’ve got a fundamental match coming up and we need to find all the possible energy to put into it. I’m sure that there will be that spirit of wanting to die for our teammates, and with that, we’ll always get results. 

“Things will speak for themselves on the pitch, it will be a very tough game. I’ve never played in Bosnia before, but they tell me that the pitch is small, the fans are intense, it will be a real man’s challenge.” 

Gatti believes that the Italy team is in the right hands with Gennaro Gattuso in charge: “The coach has brought sparkle and energy. The results help to bring the group together. It has to be a journey.” 

Gatti is well aware that Italy will be met by a hostile atmosphere when they travel to Zenica: “Yes, but we have to focus on ourselves,” he said. 

“I don’t like to talk before games, nowadays everyone is able to judge for themselves. This is a match that could change our future. We have to look at it from that perspective and that’s it. Let’s leave the talking to others.” 

And on the conditions that awaits the Italy players in Bosnia, he said:  “I’ve played on worse pitches. I don’t know what the conditions will be like, but we have to be ready for anything. The match is so important and what will be will be, but we have to give it 110%.” 

Lastly, Gatti was asked about the prospect of a challenge with the legendary Edin Dzeko on Tuesday night. 

“I played against him at Juventus in his first year at Inter,” he said. “He’s a very strong striker, his career speaks for itself. We will look for the energy we need to bring home a result that could change all of our futures, and we will play for the nation.” 

In a concerning update for Milan, France national team head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Adrien Rabiot will not feature against Colombia on Sunday evening after missing training with a knee issue. 

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Rabiot to miss France friendly with knock to knee

Rabiot was named as a starter for France’s 2-1 victory over Brazil in an international friendly on Thursday evening, but will not feature when Les Bleues take on Colombia at 20.00 BST on Sunday. 

Deschamps has confirmed that Rabiot has suffered a knock to his knee in training and that he was not involved in his national side’s final session ahead of the Colombia friendly on Sunday evening. 

“As a precaution, Rabiot didn’t participate in training because he suffered a blow to his knee,” Deschamps confirmed. 

According to Calciomercato.com, Rabiot’s absence from the France squad is on precautionary grounds, however, this was also the case when he came back from international duty with a calf problem in October. 

Rabot started and scored in France’s first game of the international break in October, but then missed the second on precautionary grounds due to a problem with his calf. However, once he returned to Milan, he then went on to miss five league fixtures as a result of the calf issue. 

It remains to be seen whether the 30-year-old will be forced to miss any action at club level as a result of the latest knock to his knee.

1982 World Cup winner and former CT Dino Zoff is one of the latest stars to condemn the viral video clip that showed a handful of Italy players celebrating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s penalty shoot-out victory against Wales in their World Cup play-off semi-final, but says that he is ‘optimistic’ that the Azzurri will still qualify for the final tournament. 

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Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo in Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final, while Bosnia defeated Wales after a penalty shoot-out in Cardiff just over half an hour later. 

As Italy got the job done in regular time, the players were already back inside and watching along on screens as Kerim Alajbegovic converted the winning spot kick at the Cardiff City stadium. 

Footage of the Italy players’ reactions, focusing on Federico Dimarco, Guglielmo Vicario and Pio Esposito, were shown on Rai’s live TV broadcast in Italy and the clip has since been shared thousands of times on social media. 

Dimarco and Vicario were seen pumping their fists and patting each other on the backs as Bosnia eliminated Wales, and while their exact motivation remains unclear, there were accusations of ‘disrespect’ and ‘arrogance’ and concerns that the footage has only served as an additional bit of motivation for the Bosnia squad heading into Tuesday’s play-off final. 

Dimarco has since come out in a press conference and has insisted that he meant no disrespect by his actions, and claimed that he and his teammates can’t be arrogant given that Italy haven’t qualified for the World Cup for 12 years. 

• Read more: Dimarco unwise to celebrate, but televising incident only harms Italy

Zoff on Italy’s celebration video and chances of qualifying for the World Cup

“I’m optimistic: Italy will get to the World Cup,” said legendary former Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Zoff in an interview with Il Giornale. “It was important to win against Northern Ireland. Two goals were enough, even if they didn’t shine.” 

Zoff was asked for his opinions on the now infamous clip of Dimarco and Vicario celebrating Bosnia’s penalty shoot-out victory. 

He said: “It’s an attitude that I didn’t like. It wasn’t a positive given that it will fire up the opponents even more ahead of the challenge against us. I would have behaved differently.” 

Zoff went on to express his excitement at the qualities that Inter forward Pio Esposito has to offer. 

“I like him a lot. He has great potential and could play for the national team for many years. He’s impressed me a lot, not only from a technical point of view, but from every angle. Pio’s a strong player and his behaviour on the pitch is already very mature as well, despite his age.”

But, there is another striker that Zoff thinks will score the goal that takes Italy to the World Cup. 

“I’d say Kean. I thought he did very well against Northern Ireland and scored a very good goal.”

Matteo Politano insists that Italy ‘deserve’ to get to the 2026 World Cup but says that he and his teammates have to prove their worth on the pitch first, and has emplored supporters to ‘stay with’ the national team and to cheer them on through their final challenge against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday night. 

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Politano previews Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy World Cup play-off final

Italy is the highest-ranked nation in the world not to have a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped up. They finished second behind Norway in their qualification group, which condemned them to the play-offs for the third tournament cycle in a row. 

Since then, Italy have beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo in order to qualify for Tuesday’s play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Wales on penalties in Cardiff on Thursday night to complete the tie. This match will be played in Zenica on Tuesday evening at 19.45 BST.

“The guys are focussed, we’re happy after achieving this first goal, now we have a couple of days to recover our strength and prepare as best as we can for this battle,” said Politano in an interview with Vivo Azzurro TV (via TMW). 

Italy looked a touch nervous during their first half against Northern Ireland on Thursday evening, but the pressure seemed to lift the second that Sandro Tonali’s second-half strike hit the back of the net. 

“It was essential for us to free ourselves from the weight we had on us during that game,” the Napoli winger said. “There was fear and we saw some ghosts in the first half. But we broke the deadlock after we scored, we did it the right way.” 

He continued: “We’re doing well. We’re calm even though we’re aware of what we’re playing for. Especially for me and some of the others who are no longer young guys, it’s the last opportunity we have and we’re particularly keen to take advantage of it.” 

Tuesday’s opponents, Bosnia, have a core of Serie A-experienced players at their disposal including the likes of Edin Dzeko, Sead Kolasinac and Tariq Muharemovic. 

“It has a bit of an effect,” Politano admitted. “Someone like Dzeko is experienced but we have to focus on ourselves and our game more than on the opponent.” 

Politano was asked what he thinks Italy need to do in order to overcome Bosnia on Tuesday night. He said: “To start strong from the first minute, without being affected by the opponent or the environment. We have to think about giving our best and do our talking on the pitch.” 

The current Italy squad is led by Politano’s former Napoli head coach, Gennaro Gattuso. 

“Rino cares a lot about the group and the fact that we all have to be heading in the same direction, that everyone thinks in the same, healthy way. He’s a motivator and asks the best from everyone in training and in matches. I think he’s even more fired up than he was at Napoli.” 

And on the pressure that is on the national team’s shoulders heading into Tuesday’s play-off final, Politano said: “We’ve had it for a couple of months. We deserve to go to the World Cup, but we have to prove it on the pitch by giving 100%. I’m sure that we will succeed.” 

And when asked if he has a final message for the Italy national team supporters ahead of the crucial play-off final, Politano said: “To stay with us, we will give our best. Cheer us and push us on.” 

Sunday’s reports claim that at least seven Juventus players will be put up for sale during the upcoming summer transfer window, including three signings that were brought in at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. 

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Which players are expected to leave Juventus this summer?

The Bianconeri still have a long way to go in Serie A this season, sitting in fifth place, three points behind Como in the top four positions. The Old Lady have eight games remaining to secure their goal of Champions League qualification.

Juventus also have plenty of work to do behind the scenes, including arranging new contracts for head coach Luciano Spalletti and for striker Dusan Vlahovic, whose hefty €12m-per-season contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

As well as looking at potential incomings, Juventus are also hoping to sell a number of first-team players during the off-season after a somewhat underwhelming season. 

The goalkeeping department is an area that the Bianconeri will look to address this summer after a series of unconvincing performances from Michele Di Gregorio, who will almost certainly be sold if an appropriate offer comes in. As per Corriere dello Sport, the former Monza stopper is more likely to be moved on than Mattia Perin, but his long-term future in Turin is not exactly guaranteed either. 

Centre-forward is the other area of the Juventus side that is due a complete overhaul. Summer signings Jonathan David and Lois Openda have not lived up to expectations and it seems like their careers at the Allianz Arena are already over. 

The sale of David is less likely to cause an issue for the Old Lady. Recent reports claim that he has suitors back in Ligue 1, and recouping a fee for the Canada international should be less of an issue given that he arrived on a free transfer last summer. 

The situation surrounding Openda is more complicated, however, as Juventus signed him on loan with a €42m obligation to buy last summer, and finding a new buyer at those prices after a disappointing 2025-26 season will be a tough task. 

Elsewhere, full-back Joao Mario, currently on loan with Bologna, is expected to leave the club this summer. Reports from Corriere dello Sport claim that Juventus will also sell Italy international Andrea Cambiaso should an enticing offer come in. 

Filip Kostic’s contract is expiring and he will also be allowed to leave on a free transfer once the current season comes to an end. 

Lastly, Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus will entertain offers for a third summer signing in Edon Zhegrova, who has struggled to put injury and fitness issues behind him during his first season in Serie A. Sunday’s report claims that there is interest in him in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.

Antonio Conte has taken a fine but has avoided any form of suspension after the controversial comments he made towards referee Gianluca Manganiello during Napoli’s Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Como in February. 

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Conte escapes suspension after calling referee a d***head

Napoli were eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final draw against Como last month in a game that saw Conte lose his head towards fourth official Giovanni Ayroldi after a series of decisions that he thought to be errors from referee Manganiello. 

The Partenopei head coach was left enraged after a foul on Rasmus Hojlund by Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon, which he felt warranted a VAR check at the very least. The Spaniard made a similar challenge again towards the end of the first half, but escaped a booking.

Conte was caught on camera calling referee Manganiello a ‘d***head’ in a heated confrontation with fourth official Ayroldi, and also claimed that the official ‘does it on purpose with me’. 

The coach’s comments led to an investigation from FIGC prosecutor Giuseppe Chinè, and according to article 36 of the sporting code of justice, Conte was at risk of a minimum four-match suspension as a result of the ‘abuse’ that he gave the officials. 

According to Corriere dello Sport, Conte was questioned in a private interrogation with the prosecutor’s office a few days after the Napoli vs. Como match took place. 

Given Conte’s co-operation with the investigation, his legal representative has been able to reach an agreement with the authorities that will see him handed a €6,000 fine instead of any matchday suspensions.

In a worryingly bad omen for the Italy national team, the same referee that took charge of the infamous 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final defeat against North Macedonia will be tasked with officiating Tuesday’s play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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Why is the refereeing appointment for Bosnia play-off not a good sign for Italy?

Clement Turpin has been chosen as the referee for Italy’s play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which kicks off at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening. Turpin will be joined by assistants Nicolas Dagos and Benjamin Pages and fourth official Jose Maria Sanchez from Spain. Jerom Brisard and Willy Delajod will be the Video Assistant Referees. 

Alarmingly for the Azzurri, Turpin was also chosen as the referee for the infamous 1-0 loss against North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final, which cost Roberto Mancini and his players, who were the reigning European champions at the time, a spot at the final tournament later that year. 

That game ended in heartbreak for Italy, as former Palermo striker Alesandar Trajkovski netted in the 92nd minute to prevent the Azzurri from qualifying for the World Cup for the second cycle in a row. 

Italy have not qualified for the final World Cup tournament for 12 years now, dating back to the 2014 tournament in Brazil. They have not featured in a knock-out game at the World Cup in 20 years, since beating France in the final to claim the trophy back in 2006. 

This time around, Gennaro Gattuso and his squad will have to travel to a currently frozen-over Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina for a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. 

The Nazional finished second behind Norway in their World Cup qualifying group, which condemned them to the play-offs for the third tournament cycle in a row. They have since beaten Northern Ireland by two goals to nil thanks to second-half strikes from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in Thursday’s evening’s play-off semi-final in Bergamo. 

Bosnia, meanwhile, eliminated Wales on penalties in Cardiff in order to qualify.

An almost entirely French officiating team led by referee Clement Turpin will take charge of the upcoming World Cup play-off final between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy coming up on Tuesday evening. 

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The Azzurri will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening for a spot at the final 2026 World Cup tournament. 

Gennaro Gattuso’s side beat Northern Ireland 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in order to qualify, while Bosnia and Herzegovina required penalties to get past Wales in Cardiff on Thursday night. 

Referees appointed for Italy’s World Cup play-off final 

43-year-old Turpin will be the man with the whistle for Italy’s World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Turpin will be joined by assistant referees Nicolas Dagos and Benjamin Pages, also from France, plus fourth official Jose Maria Sanchez from Spain. Frenchmen Jerom Brisard and Willy Delajod will assist from the VAR booth. 

In a slightly alarming precedent for Italy, Turpin was also the referee for their infamous 1-0 loss against North Macedonia during the World Cup play-off semi-final in 2022, which cost the Azzurri their place at the final tournament later that year. 

The North Macedonia match was one of five previous Italy matches that Turpin has been involved in. He also took charge of a 3-0 win against Uruguay in a 2017 friendly, a 2-0 win over Poland in the Nations League in 2020, a 3-1 loss against England in qualification for EURO 2024, and the 3-0 win over Israel in World Cup qualifying earlier this season. 

Turpin has refereed 12 matches in Ligue 1 so far this season, plus six in the Champions League, two in Champions League qualification, 2 in the UAE Pro League, one in the Saudi Pro League and one in the Coupe De France. 

Napoli’s 3-2 Champions League defeat against Chelsea is Turpin’s only match involving an Italian side so far this season.

Alessandro Bastoni continues to be linked with a potential summer transfer to Barcelona, and the latest reports in Italy claim that Inter will target a replacement already playing in Serie A if the Italy international does decide to leave in the coming months. 

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According to recent reports in both Italy and Spain, Barcelona are becoming increasingly keen on the idea of signing Bastoni from Inter this summer. 

The Nerazzurri star won’t come cheaply, though, and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that it will take an offer in the region of €80m, or at least €70m with significant bonuses in order to convince Beppe Marotta’s side into selling. 

Negotiations are not formally underway just yet, but the latest reports in Spain claim that Bastoni is Barca’s ‘top target’ ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and that the Italy stay is open to a move to Camp Nou. 

Who could Inter sign if Bastoni leaves for Barcelona?

Sunday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Lazio’s Mario Gila would be Inter’s top target to replace Bastoni should he leave this coming transfer window. 

Gila, 25, already has 113 appearances from his time in Italy in Lazio and has 83 outings in Serie A to his name. The Spaniard is also of interest to Inter’s city rivals Milan, given the connection between the player and former Lazio director Igli Tare, who currently serves as the sporting director for the Rossoneri. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport warns that it will not be easy to negotiate with the Biancocelesti, even though Gila will be heading into the final year of his contract this summer, expiring in 2027. 

Other options for the Nerazzurri reportedly include Sassuolo’s Tariq Muharemovic, Udinese’s Oumar Solet and Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, all of whom are expected to be worth around €20m-€30m.

Italy are preparing to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off final on Tuesday evening, but aside from the threats posed by Edin Dzeko, his teammates, and the viral video clip of Federico Dimarco mid-celebration, the weather could also now come into play. 

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Three issues facing Italy ahead of World Cup play-off final

Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo in Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final thanks to second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, which set up a final date with Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Wales on penalties in Cardiff. 

It took just a matter of minutes after Thursday’s semi-finals came to an end for controversy to cloud over the Italy national team, when Rai decided to broadcast a video of Dimarco and a handful of his colleagues celebrating Bosnia’s penalty shoot-out victory over Wales. 

• Read more: Dimarco unwise to celebrate, but televising incident only harms Italy

The video has caused mixed reactions, many negative, particularly in Bosnia, for whom the clip has only served as additional motivation heading into Tuesday’s play-off final. 

Dimarco has since come out and insisted that he was filmed in a private setting, did not mean to cause any disrespect and has hushed claims that he and his teammates were arrogant by pointing to the fact that Italy have not qualified for the World Cup for the last 12 years. 

Of course, it would be a sign of disrespect in itself to suggest that the now infamous video clip is the only threat posed against Italy heading into Tuesday’s World Cup decider.

Bosnia have qualified by attaining a similar set of results to Italy over the World Cup qualifying campaign and have players of their own that can threaten the Azzurri, from the legendary Dzeko to the Serie A-accustomed Tariq Muharmovic and Sead Kolasinac, to the exciting talent of Kerim Alajbegovic. 

And now, according to the latest updates, the weather in a freezing Zenica, where rain and snow continues to fall, is the latest issue heading into the World Cup play-off final. 

According to meridiansport.ba, heaters are being used on the pitch for the first ever time in Bosnia in an attempt to clear the snow and ice from the pitch in time for the play-off decider, which kicks off at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Mission no.1s 

The climb of Antonelli and Sinner

Kimi: Another pole in Suzuka on track with Formula 1 legends. GP This morning at  6 

Jannik: Final against Lehecka (20.00). If he wins in Miami and then in Monte Carlo, he will become the king of tennis again 

I’ll take you to the World Cup 

Gattuso growls and does it for Italy 

The CT between a desire to remain unchanged and the Cristante and Pio options. His dad: ‘My Rino is loved by the country’ 

Bosnia-Italy: Play-off final on Tuesday

Dimarco and that video: ‘No arrogance, we haven’t qualified for 12 years’

Bastoni leaving? There’s Gila 

Wanted by Barca. Inter, battle with Milan for the Laziale

Corriere dello Sport 

We believe in Pio 

World Cup at stake in a freezing Zenica: Esposito temptation

A battle with Retegui: Gattuso thinks about it. Dimarco: ‘The celebration after Bosnia beat Wales on penalties? No lack of respect towards Dzeko’s national side. But Alajbegovic warns the Azzurri: ‘It will be a brutal match’

Rain and snow | Play-off final in Bosnia on Tuesday evening: The challenges for Italy are Dzeko, an 8,000-capacity stadium and the climate 

Conte admits and pays: He won’t be suspended 

Fine of €6,000 after the insults to Manganiello 

The Napoli coach, with the help of lawyer Grassani, has reached an agreement that avoids further sanction. He was at risk of missing four games 

Roma look for Carlos Augusto 

Ausilio works on Kone: Massara wants the Brazilian 

Bastoni, Barca get to work 

Laporta’s club contacts the agent: Inter don’t make any discounts 

Juve study Bernardo Silva 

The Portuguese to leave on a free: Serie A is an idea 

Milan wait for Modric’s signature 

Contract expiring, but Luka is at the centre of Allegri’s plans 

Tuttosport

Bosnia raise the tension

Italy, World Cup decider in Zenica on Tuesday

Our rivals ride off the good-for-nothing video of certain Azzurri players celebrating their beating Wales on penalties. Dimarco: ‘It was a private moment, it’s disrespectful. Us arrogant? But we haven’t qualified for 12 years’. Here’s how Muharemovic awaits them: ‘We fear only God, let us feast on the Italians’. Snow in Bosnia, finishing in Coverciano

With Spalletti, the market is easier 

The Super agent d’Amico and his Juve future 

‘Now with Luciano here, the players know where they’re going and why. His renewal is not just a signing, it’s a signal. All offers will be listened to, apart from for Yildiz’. From Alisson to Rudiger, Kolo to Silva, the effects of the coach’s renewal

Toro, the dossier of the sale 

A trail opens up in the USA: A report about the Bank of America is circulating

The rumour from Sole 24 Ore is shaking up more than just the Torino world. The second-largest banking giant in the USA is implicated, and is said to have begun pitching the ‘Torino deal’ to potential investors