Bosnia Captain Dzeko on Italy's World Cup Playoff Opponents

Dzeko says Italy feeling pressure ahead of World Cup playoff final | Straits Times

Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko believes Italy is feeling pressure ahead of World Cup playoff final after celebrating Bosnia's win. Dzeko brushes off Italy's celebration controversy, pointing to pressure on four-time champions.

Italy faces Bosnia in World Cup playoff final amid controversy over celebrating opponent's win...

Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko thinks Italy is feeling the pressure ahead of their World Cup playoff final, and he points to the controversy over Italian players celebrating Bosnia's win over Wales as evidence. Italy won their semi-final against Northern Ireland, and some players, including Dzeko's former Inter Milan teammate Federico Dimarco, were seen on Italian TV celebrating Bosnia's penalty shootout win.

Loši vremenski uslovi posljednjih dana nisu uticali na atmosferu među Zmajevima u pripremi za finale baraža za Svjetsko prvenstvo, koja će biti odigrana za dva dana u Zenici protiv Italije.

Izabranici Sergeja Barbareza su danas u Butmiru, u kampu FK Sarajevo odradili trening. pic.twitter.com/IqFHesQriW

— NFS BIH (@NFSBiH) March 29, 2026

Dzeko downplayed the controversy, saying it's normal to have preferences, and Dimarco has since apologized, saying he didn't mean to offend anyone. Dzeko believes Italy's media complaints about lacking intensity in Italian football are a sign of their pressure, and he expects a tactical match.

Italians celebrated Bosnia's win over Wales, but Bosnian fans weren't happy when the video surfaced online, calling it disrespectful.

“What ‌happened is something completely normal because we all have our preferences, mine was maybe ‌not to play against Italy,” Dzeko told reporters on Monday ahead of Tuesday's game in Zenica.

“But today you have to be careful, with social media everything becomes bigger than it is. Dimarco messaged me and ‌said he didn't want to offend anyone. I told him 'what ⁠are we even talking about? There's absolutely no ‌problem'.”

Italy risk missing out on World Cup qualification for a third consecutive time.

“Italy didn't want to play in Wales, I don't know why, because we went there without fear and won,” Dzeko said.

“I don't know why Italy should be afraid of Wales or Bosnia. Italy is an incredible national team that has won four World Cups.

“If they're afraid of playing in Wales, it means something isn't working, and maybe we should look ⁠at it this way, they might really suffer in this match because they're playing for so much after missing two World Cups. That means they're afraid.”

Italy's struggles go beyond the national team. No Italian club made it to the Champions League quarterfinals this season, and Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko, who played for Inter, AS Roma, and Fiorentina, is well-acquainted with Italian football's issues.

Bosnia, on the other hand, is aiming to return to the World Cup for the first time since their only appearance in 2014. Dzeko believes Italy is feeling the pressure, pointing to the controversy over Italian players celebrating Bosnia's win over Wales as evidence.

“Their media complain all the time that Italian football lacks intensity, that's why Italian clubs haven't been getting good results in Europe lately,” Dzeko said.

“I expect a very tactical match, given what's at stake for both and I believe both teams will be very cautious from the start.”

Dzeko's Unstoppable Streak: 20 Years of Scoring for Bosnia

Edin Dzeko, the 40-year-old Bosnian football legend, continues to defy age, scoring his equalizer against Wales and extending his remarkable record of scoring in every year since his debut in 2007. As his country's all-time top scorer.

 

Edin Džeko: class is permanent ♾#UEL | @Fenerbahce pic.twitter.com/t6gI2xLoK7

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 27, 2026

“I didn't even realise I had scored those goals for 20 years in ‌a row, it's a sign that a player's career flies by in a second,” Dzeko, currently playing with German second-tier side Schalke 04, said.

“As long as I feel good and as long as I can help, I'll be here.

“Maybe in the past I could have gone somewhere else and earned more money, but I wanted to ⁠play in Europe for as long as ⁠I could. I've reached 40, I'm ‌still here, and I'm happy to be able to keep doing it.”