PARIS, France: Four-time World Cup winners Italy hope to end a 12-year absence from football’s biggest stage on Tuesday, while Kosovo are dreaming of a first ever appearance at a major tournament. AFP Sport previews the play-off finals that will decide the last four European qualifiers for this summer’s 48-team tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada: Bosnia and Hercegovina v Italy Gennaro Gattuso, a 2006 World Cup winner, is trying to lead Italy back to the tournament after the Azzurri missed out on the 2018 and 2022 editions, but they can expect a hostile atmosphere in Zenica.

PARIS, France: Four-time World Cup winners Italy hope to end a 12-year absence from football’s biggest stage on Tuesday, while Kosovo are dreaming of a first ever appearance at a…

Having gained independence in 2008, Kosovo are one game away from qualifying for the World Cup and sparking "the biggest celebrations ever seen in Pristina".

Minute-by-minute report: Can the Azzurri win away in Zenica and make their first World Cup finals since 2014? Join Scott Murray

The Azzurri are the first World Cup winners to miss out on three consecutive editions of the tournament, which this year will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

ZENICA, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Italy will miss out on a third straight World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Hercegovina in Tuesday’s breathless qualification play-off final, the…