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Italy Looking to Avoid Third Straight Shut Out of World Cup

On Thursday, four-time champions Italy defeated Northern Ireland 2-0, joining Bosnia, Sweden, Poland, Turkiye, Kosovo, the Czech Republic, and Denmark as winners in the European World Cup qualifying playoff semifinals.
Having missed the 2018 and 2022 editions, Italy travels to Bosnia on Tuesday for the final, seeking to reach their first World Cup since 2014 in the expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
Italy coach and 2006 champion Gennaro Gattuso said, "we found our rhythm" after Sandro Tonali scored from the edge of the box and Moise Kean sealed the win in the Bergamo semifinal.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Wrexham striker Bailey Cadamarteri scored in a 1-0 victory over New Caledonia, sending Jamaica to the international playoff final against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Bolivia defeated Suriname 2-1.
The decisive playoff finals are scheduled for Tuesday, with winners qualifying for the June and July tournament spanning Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the expanded 48-team competition.

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Italy looking to avoid third straight shut out of World Cup

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History favours Italy ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup play-off final

Italy have booked their spot in the World Cup play-off final, and the Azzurri boast an impressive head-to-head record against their upcoming opponents, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News – Free Trial – Click Here How have Italy previously fared against Bosnia and Herzegovina?Italy is the highest ranked nation that does not have a place at the 2026 World Cup wrapped up. Gennaro Gattuso’s side fi…

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