\ufeffRuthless Socceroos explode as 17-minute blitz stuns World Cup surprise packet <\/a><\/p>\nItaly’s Pio Esposito reacts after missing a penalty kickSource: APItaly’s goalkeeper #01 Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is disconsolateSource: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow, for the performance, the effort and the heart that they showed tonight… I\u2019m proud of the boys,\u201d said Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to digest.\u201d Gattuso added that talking about his future \u201cwasn\u2019t important\u201d but there will be reflection from the football federation as Italy 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.<\/p>\n
It was also a third straight elimination in the play-offs after Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia four years ago.<\/p>\n
Bosnia meanwhile reached their second World Cup finals, and first since 2014, in front of a passionate crowd which invaded the pitch after a historic victory.<\/p>\n
Some Italy players were filmed celebrating when Bosnia won their semi-final — again on penalties — against Wales, behaviour which looked even more foolish after the way Bosnia tore into their opponents.<\/p>\n
Bosnia’s coach Sergej Barbarez is chaired aloftSource: APBosnia supporters celebrate after a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia.Source: AP<\/p>\n
– Sorry Italy – <\/p>\n
Italy looked nervy in the opening exchanges but were given a helping hand in opening the scoring by Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, who under pressure from Mateo Retegui passed the ball straight to Nicolo Barella.<\/p>\n
The Inter Milan midfielder offloaded to Kean who confidently curled home his eighth goal in six international appearances from the edge of the penalty area.<\/p>\n
Bosnia reacted well to going behind, continuing to harry Italy and force mistakes on a bobbly pitch, and Ermedin Demirovic glanced a header inches wide in the 38th minute.<\/p>\n
And the already rowdy home fans smelled blood when Bastoni was given his marching orders for his horrendous challenge, the Inter defender arriving late on Memic and giving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to show him a straight red card.<\/p>\n
A man down and with a slender lead to protect, Gattuso brought on Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti for Retegui and set his team up to soak up the waves of Bosnia pressure which came after the break.<\/p>\n
Donnarumma had to be alert to punch away Kerim Alajbegovic\u2019s powerful drive in the 52nd minute, but Kean wasted a golden chance to double Italy\u2019s lead on the hour mark when he pounced on Memic\u2019s sloppy pass and charged towards goal only to smash his shot over the bar.<\/p>\n
Donnarumma was called upon again in the 73rd minute, the Manchester City \u2018keeper brilliantly tipping Benjamin Tahirovic\u2019s low shot around the post.<\/p>\n
And after Esposito and Dimarco failed to make the most of presentable shooting opportunities, substitute Tabakovic sparked wild celebrations after Edin Dzeko\u2019s header was clawed off the line by Donnarumma.<\/p>\n
Another superb Donnarumma save from Demirovic\u2019s header kept Italy level and extra time was equally tense, with the Italians furious that Tarik Muharemovic was not sent off for taking out Marco Palestra as the Cagliari defender burst towards goal.<\/p>\n
They were also up in arms when a handball shout went unheard inside their penalty area.<\/p>\n
But that won\u2019t be much of an excuse after another sorry effort to reach the World Cup ended in dismal fashion in the shoot-out.<\/p>\n
Handball and penalty shouts were denied against Italy.Source: Fox Sports<\/p>\n
Gattuso asked to stay on <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve asked him to stay and asked (Gianluigi) Buffon to stay in charge of the football side,\u201d Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), told reporters. <\/p>\n
Buffon has a role within the FIGC which involves overseeing the senior and youth national teams, and he said he would wait until the end of the current season in June before making a decision on his future. <\/p>\n
Asked whether he would accept Gravina\u2019s invitation to stay, Gattuso repeated what he said to Italian broadcaster RAI by saying it \u201cwasn\u2019t important\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really painful. I would have given anything today, I would have given up years of my life, money, for us to achieve our goal,\u201d said Gattuso. <\/p>\n
A World Cup winner as a player in 2006, Gattuso was hired in June last year to replace the sacked Luciano Spalletti, with a contract which expires after the World Cup. <\/p>\n
Gravina also said he would not step down, but his presence as the head of the FIGC would be discussed at a board meeting next week. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that we\u2019re in a profound crisis, a crisis that requires serious reflection and not only by the FIGC but also from politicians who have only pushed for resignations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Turkiye set up WC clash with Socceroos | 01:15<\/p>\n
SOCCEROOS\u2019 FIRST OPPONENT CONFIRMED<\/p>\n
Turkey qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday after Kerem Akturkoglu\u2019s goal secured a 1-0 win away to Kosovo in their European playoff final, shattering their hosts\u2019 dream of appearing at the tournament for the first time.<\/p>\n
Akturkoglu diverted Orkun Kokcu\u2019s shot into the net in the 53rd minute in Pristina for the only goal of the game, ensuring Turkey will go to their first World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002.<\/p>\n
Their players, including captain Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan, Real Madrid\u2019s Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, waved giant Turkish flags as they went across to celebrate at full-time in front of the travelling support.<\/p>\n
Vincenzo Montella\u2019s team will go into Group D at the World Cup, along with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia. They will begin their campaign against Australia in Vancouver on June 13.<\/p>\n
Turkey’s forward #07 Kerem Akturkoglu celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Kosovo and Turkey.Source: AFP<\/p>\n
Turkey shaded a close-fought game low on goalmouth action and secured victory early in the second half as a Yildiz cutback from the left was met by Kokcu before Fenerbahce striker Akturkoglu made sure.<\/p>\n
Montella\u2019s side are ranked 22nd in the world and reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, but this will only be Turkey\u2019s third ever appearance at the World Cup — they went to the 1954 tournament before coming third 24 years ago in South Korea and Japan.<\/p>\n
They finished second in European qualifying Group E behind Spain, holding the Spanish to a draw away from home, before beating Romania 1-0 at home in their playoff semi-final last week.<\/p>\n
Kosovo, ranked 78th, were targeting a first ever World Cup appearance, having only been accepted as FIFA members a decade ago.<\/p>\n
They had finished second behind Switzerland in qualifying Group B, notably beating Sweden home and away, before coming from behind twice to defeat Slovakia 4-3 away in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Turkey’s players celebrate after winning at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualificationSource: AFP<\/p>\n
ARSENAL STAR\u2019S HEROICS SEALS SWEDES\u2019 PLACE<\/p>\n
Viktor Gyokeres sent Sweden to the 2026 World Cup as he netted a dramatic late winner to hand his country a 3-2 win over Poland in their European playoff final on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
With the match locked at two-apiece the Arsenal striker forced the ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble with just two minutes remaining to qualify Sweden for the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n
They join the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Anthony Elanga and Gustaf Lagerbielke had twice given Sweden the lead before Nicola Zalewski and Karol Swiderski hit back for Poland.<\/p>\n
After missing out on the last edition in 2022, it is a return to football\u2019s global showpiece tournament for Graham Potter\u2019s side after eight years away.<\/p>\n
After a disastrous qualifying campaign, Sweden qualified for the play-offs thanks to topping Group C1 in the Nations League.<\/p>\n
For Poland, it was the first time they have failed to reach a World Cup finals since 2014.<\/p>\n
The Swedes began in slightly nervous fashion in front of the fans in Stockholm as the Poles controlled the early tempo.<\/p>\n
Sweden’s forward #17 Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after winning 3:2 the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Sweden and PolandSource: AFP<\/p>\n
– Party in Stockholm –<\/p>\n
The breakthrough then came in spectacular fashion in the 20th minute as Yasi Ayari backheeled into the path of the onrushing Elanga who thrashed the ball home left-footed via the crossbar.<\/p>\n
The visitors nearly levelled five minutes later as Swiderski\u2019s swivelling volley from inside the box forced a fine one-handed save from Kristoffer Nordfeldt low down to his left.<\/p>\n
Jakub Kaminski then worked the Swedish goalkeeper from the resulting corner with a tame effort from the edge of the box as Poland started to turn the screw.<\/p>\n
Polish pressure told on 33 minutes as Nordfeldt failed to deal with Zalewski\u2019s curling effort after the 24-year-old had picked the ball up in space and cut in from the left.<\/p>\n
Sweden were on the ropes since taking the lead with Poland targeting, in particular, their right flank.<\/p>\n
The next goal was to come from that side of the pitch, however, it was in favour of the embattled hosts as Zalewski chopped down Elanga near the right touchline to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position.<\/p>\n
Celtic\u2019s Benjamin Nygren whipped in a teasing inswinger with his left foot and centre-half Lagerbielke ghosted in at the near post to nod past a stranded Kamil Grabara one minute before the interval. It was just Sweden\u2019s second shot of the half.<\/p>\n
Poland\u2019s leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski cut an frustrated figure on his 165th cap, and the Barcelona forward blazed over early in the second period when he might have been better flighting a cross in the box.<\/p>\n
But his grimace soon changed to a relieved smile in the 55th minute when Zalewski snuck onto a Matty Cash cross at the back post and his miscued attempt to control the ball fell perfectly for Swiderski to tap home the leveller.<\/p>\n
Both Potter and his Polish counterpart Jan Urban shuffled their packs midway through the second half in a bid to find the decisive goal that would seal their side\u2019s spot in the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Just as a further 30 minutes seemed inevitable, the otherwise-quiet Gyokeres popped up to bundle across the line from close range at the end of a sequence of play which included a Grabara save from Lucas Bergvall and a Besfort Zeneli shot which came back off a post.<\/p>\n
Poland piled forward desperately but were unable to find a third leveller on the night as the referee signalled the end of the encounter and the start of the party in Stockholm.<\/p>\n
Irankunda stars as Roos smash Curacao | 03:09<\/p>\n
SOCCEROOS\u2019 RIVALS FROM LAST WORLD CUP MISS OUT<\/p>\n
Michal Sadilek\u2019s penalty sent the Czech Republic to the World Cup as they beat Denmark in a shootout in Prague on Tuesday following a 2-2 draw after extra time.<\/p>\n
The Czechs will play their first World Cup since 2006, facing Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A of the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July.<\/p>\n
Tomas Chory and Tomas Soucek also scored for the Czechs in their second shootout in six days, while skipper Ladislav Krejci was denied by Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.<\/p>\n
For the visitors, Christian Eriksen was the only shootout scorer while Rasmus Hojlund hit the crossbar, Anders Dreyer failed to beat goalkeeper Matej Kovar and Mathias Jensen fired over the crossbar.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m speechless. Hats off to everyone, I\u2019m incredibly happy,\u201d Krejci told Czech state television.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s be honest, we were not the better team but we showed more heart and we fought harder,\u201d added the Wolverhampton defender.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had teary eyes, just a bit. I\u2019m terribly happy and I want to thank the players,\u201d Czech coach Miroslav Koubek told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe suffered today. We played the best we could,\u201d added the 74-year-old former goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
On the chilly night in Prague, Pavel Sulc opened the score for the Czechs with a fine volley into the top corner three minutes into the game after the Danish defence had cleared a corner in his direction.<\/p>\n
Denmark levelled in the 72nd minute when Mikkel Damsgaard\u2019s free kick found Joachim Andersen in the box ready with a glancing header.<\/p>\n
Krejci put the hosts ahead again in the 100th minute as he picked up a ball knocked down by Soucek in a goalmouth scramble following Vladimir Coufal\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n
His shot was deflected into the net by Danish defender Alexander Bah. But Denmark levelled again in the 111th minute when substitute Kasper Hogh headed home Eriksen\u2019s corner six minutes after coming onto the pitch.<\/p>\n
Infantino confirms Iran to play in USA | 00:50<\/p>\n
– \u2018Outstanding success\u2019 –<\/p>\n
In the play-off semi-finals on March 26, the Czechs beat Ireland on penalties while Denmark breezed past North Macedonia 4-0.<\/p>\n
But they had a hard time beating the Czech defence as the hosts parked the bus after the quick opening goal, defending with 10 men.<\/p>\n
Rasmus Hojlund had his low shot cleared by Kovar who also forced Gustav Isaksen\u2019s curling free kick over the crossbar.<\/p>\n
The hosts were a threat on the break but Lukas Provod tipped the ball past Hermansen and his right post.<\/p>\n
Denmark kept pushing and missing or finding Kovar\u2019s arms throughout the game, while the hosts often resorted to blindly clearing the ball.<\/p>\n
Denmark will sit out their first World Cup since 2014, while the Czech Republic will record only the second appearance since it split with Slovakia to emerge as an independent country in 1993.<\/p>\n
At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Czech Republic relied on the likes of Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved, Tomas Rosicky, Karel Poborsky and Jan Koller and bowed out after the group stage.<\/p>\n
Spurs name De Zerbi as new coach | 00:39<\/p>\n
The 2026 World Cup berth is a rather unexpected triumph for the Czechs who struggled through the qualification, swapping coaches just before the play-offs amid mounting criticism from fans and pundits.<\/p>\n
Long-time skipper Soucek lost the captain\u2019s armband before the play-offs after a fumbled attempt to console fans particularly upset by a 2-1 qualifying defeat on the Faroe Islands last October.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe faith that we can do it kept growing every day, every hour,\u201d the veteran coach Koubek said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is teamwork and an outstanding success and I\u2019m really sincerely happy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Italy will miss out on a third straight World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":577461,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[6074,2620,2095,1724,63,689,181696,22716,80064,3795,283235,2065,2791,283229,283230,283242,283064,283228,283226,9239,11301,1208,2057,283241,93883,283243,283062,13201,6246,283233,283234,12028,129808,283239,43,283245,46594,2328,283240,941,159218,167849,283232,2184,249470,16255,44,283236,2041,68108,2067,3583,677,7104,48078,45736,283237,5427,16260,283231,283238,43269,12013,11298,5813,3595,2020,20945,283057,28613,79017,4200,283227,41,39,42,40,283244,2125,2614,3926,12000,2062,20591,283246],"class_list":{"0":"post-577460","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-africa","9":"tag-agence-france-presse","10":"tag-america","11":"tag-asia","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","14":"tag-ball-home","15":"tag-benjamin-nygren","16":"tag-bosnia-and-herzegovina","17":"tag-british-columbia","18":"tag-bryan-cristante","19":"tag-canada","20":"tag-central-america","21":"tag-close-fought-game","22":"tag-consecutives-editions","23":"tag-decisive-goal","24":"tag-desperate-relegation-move","25":"tag-disastrous-qualifying-campaign","26":"tag-dramatic-penalty-shootout","27":"tag-eastern-asia","28":"tag-eastern-europe","29":"tag-england","30":"tag-europe","31":"tag-european-playoff-final","32":"tag-european-qualification","33":"tag-european-qualifying-group","34":"tag-fans-turn","35":"tag-fifa","36":"tag-football-news","37":"tag-global-showpiece-tournament","38":"tag-goalmouth-action","39":"tag-graham-potter","40":"tag-group-d-sa","41":"tag-hakan-calhanoglu","42":"tag-headlines","43":"tag-heroics-seals-swedes","44":"tag-internazionale-milano-f-c","45":"tag-italy","46":"tag-jan-urban","47":"tag-japan","48":"tag-kenan-yildiz","49":"tag-kosovo","50":"tag-leading-goalscorer","51":"tag-mexico","52":"tag-nations-league","53":"tag-netherlands","54":"tag-news","55":"tag-nicola-zalewski","56":"tag-north-america","57":"tag-northern-africa","58":"tag-northern-america","59":"tag-northern-europe","60":"tag-oceania","61":"tag-paraguay","62":"tag-penalty-shootout","63":"tag-players-look","64":"tag-playoff-semi-final","65":"tag-poland","66":"tag-qatar","67":"tag-qualification-final-football","68":"tag-qualification-play-off-final","69":"tag-real-madrid-c-f","70":"tag-robert-lewandowski","71":"tag-south-america","72":"tag-south-korea","73":"tag-southern-europe","74":"tag-spain","75":"tag-spectacular-fashion","76":"tag-spurs-hand","77":"tag-stockholm","78":"tag-surprise-packet","79":"tag-sweden","80":"tag-swedish-goalkeeper","81":"tag-top-news","82":"tag-top-stories","83":"tag-topnews","84":"tag-topstories","85":"tag-travelling-support","86":"tag-tunisia","87":"tag-united-states-of-america","88":"tag-vancouver","89":"tag-western-asia","90":"tag-western-europe","91":"tag-world-champions","92":"tag-zenica"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/577460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=577460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/577460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/577461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=577460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=577460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=577460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n