The story will be of another Italian apocalypse, yet another infamous occasion for a nation that has won four men’s World Cups but is starting to believe it might never go to another after missing out for the third time in a row. After a North Macedonian bolt from the blue in 2022, and a stultifying two-legged defeat to Sweden five years before that they found a new way to come up short in 2026 – eliminated on penalties in their playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
But this night should also be remembered for an electric performance by the hosts, who richly deserve the place they have claimed at this summer’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Despite falling behind early to a Moise Kean goal, Sergej Barbarez’s side kept their heads, kept attacking and ultimately played the Italians off the park. The only area in which they came up short was scoring the goals their performance deserved. They put that right in the shootout, converting four out of four.
There had been more than enough chances to win this game inside 90 minutes. Even before Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for Italy on the cusp of half-time, Bosnia and Herzegovina led the shot count by 11 to two. It took them until the 79th to find an equaliser through Haris Tabaković, but that was enough. They battled through a cagy extra-time period and won on penalties for the second time in five days.
