Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 (Pen 4-1) Italy Player Ratings: Italy's World Cup Dream Crushed by Bosnia in Penalties

Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Italy in a dramatic World Cup playoff final to reach the finals for the second time in history. It was a heartbreaking elimination for Gattuso's Italy, who will now sit out of the World Cup for the third consecutive edition. After the match ended in a 1-1 draw, no team managed to score the winner in the 120 minutes of extra time, with the decider going into a tiebreaker. Italy missed two penalties, and Bosnia secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

The Italy national football team made a brighter start and went ahead in the 15th minute when Moise Kean found the net with a clinical finish. Italy looked comfortable for most of the first half, but the game changed just before the break as Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card, leaving his team with ten men.

Bosnia and Herzegovina used the extra man well after halftime and kept pushing Italy back with sustained attacks. Their pressure finally paid off in the 79th minute as substitute Haris Tabakovic scored the equaliser to lift the home crowd. In this article, let's talk about Bosnia and Herzegovina player ratings from the WC qualifier.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy Highlights

1. Moise Kean gave Italy the lead in the 15th minute.
2. Alessandro Bastoni’s red card before halftime changed the course of the match.
3. Haris Tabakovic equalised in the 79th minute before Bosnia won on penalties.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Player Ratings vs Italy

Here are Bosnia and Herzegovina player ratings from the dramatic game:

Goalkeeper

Nikola Vasilj - 6.5: He couldn't do much about Kean’s long-range goal. Vasilj wasn't tested a huge amount for large parts of the game due to Italy going down to 10 men. However, he made a crucial save in extra time to keep his team level. His distribution was decent enough, finding his man most of the time. A solid, if not overly busy, performance.

Defenders

Tarik Muharemović - 7.5: We noticed he was a very busy man at the back. He put in a real shift, winning an impressive eight out of ten duels. His eight clearances show how much defending he had to do. He was strong in the air and composed on the ball, though he did pick up a late yellow card. A really promising performance from the young defender.

Sead Kolasinac - 6.0: A quiet evening for the experienced defender, who was substituted at halftime. He was tidy in possession and won his tackles while on the pitch. It seemed like a tactical change rather than a performance-based one. Didn't have enough time to truly stamp his authority on the game.

Amar Dedić - 8.0: From our perspective, he was a constant source of creativity. Creating six chances from a defensive position is simply outstanding. He was always looking to get forward and support the attack, firing off four shots of his own. Defensively he was sound, a real all-action display that caused Italy problems all night.

Nikola Katic - 8.5: An absolute giant at the back for Bosnia. This guy was a magnet for the ball, making a staggering nine clearances and winning seven aerial duels. He was dominant, aggressive, and even popped up with a few headers in the Italian box. What stood out to us was his commanding presence; he was the leader of that backline and barely put a foot wrong all game.

Midfielders

Ivan Basic - 6.5: He put in a solid 71-minute shift in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving well, boasting an 87% pass accuracy, and created two chances for his teammates. He wasn't spectacular, but he was a reliable and steady presence who did his job effectively before being substituted.

Ivan Sunjic - 6.0: A classic battling performance in the first half. He was all over the place, making tackles and trying to break up Italy's rhythm. However, he was a bit loose with the ball, losing it ten times in 45 minutes. It was no surprise to see him replaced at the break as the team looked for more control.

Amar Memic - 7.0: A very lively and energetic performance for 71 minutes. He was a real handful, with his direct running causing a few scares. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, getting into some great positions. He was forced off with an injury, which was a shame as he looked dangerous.

Esmir Bajraktarevic - 8.5: What a player. This was a breakout performance that had us on the edge of our seats. He completed eight dribbles and created six chances, a phenomenal output. Every time he got the ball, you felt something was about to happen. He was the team's main creative force and Italy simply couldn't handle him.

Forwards

Ermedin Demirovic - 7.0: He’ll be wondering how he didn’t score. He had six shots in total, constantly getting into scoring positions. His work rate was immense, and he never gave the Italian defenders a moment's peace. His finishing was just a bit off, but his overall contribution and effort were top-notch.

Edin Džeko - 7.5: The captain led by example, playing the full 120 minutes. His hold-up play was excellent, bringing others into the game and creating two key passes. He might not have scored, but his presence, experience, and leadership were invaluable, especially against a 10-man opposition. A true warrior's performance.

Substitutes

Haris Tabakovic - 7.5: The hero of the hour. Came on and did exactly what a substitute striker should do: he scored a massive goal. His 79th-minute equalizer was a just reward for his team's pressure. A game-changing impact.

Kerim Alajbegovic - 7.0: Made a real difference after coming on at halftime. He was fearless, taking shots from distance and driving at the defense.

Benjamin Tahirovic - 6.5: Added a bit more composure and quality to the midfield when he replaced Sunjic.

Dzenis Burnic - N/A: Came on for the injured Memic but had limited time to make an impact.

Amir Hadziahmetovic - N/A: A very late substitute in extra time.

Manager

S. Barbarez - 8.0: He got his tactics spot on, especially after Italy went down to ten. His substitutions were perfect, with Tabakovic getting the crucial goal. He set his team up to be aggressive and take the game to Italy, and it paid off handsomely. A great night for the manager.

Italy Player Ratings vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Here are Italy Player Ratings from the match against Bosnia:

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 9.0: Absolutely heroic. This was one of the great goalkeeping performances. He made a staggering 10 saves, some of them genuinely world-class, to keep his 10-man team in the match. He was a commanding presence, claiming crosses and organizing his defense under immense pressure. Without him, Italy would have lost this game comfortably. Man of the match, no question about it.

Defenders

Riccardo Calafiori - 7.0: A very composed and mature performance over 120 minutes. He was defensively solid, winning most of his duels and making some key interceptions. He stayed calm under a barrage of attacks in the second half. A really impressive display in difficult circumstances for the defender.

Alessandro Bastoni - 3.0: What was he thinking? A completely needless and reckless challenge that resulted in a straight red card. He let his teammates and his manager down badly. His decision put Italy on the back foot for over an hour and was the main reason they didn't win. A very poor and unprofessional moment.

Gianluca Mancini - 6.0: He had an incredibly tough job after the red card. He was forced to do a lot of last-ditch defending, making seven clearances. However, he struggled in his individual duels, winning only three of nine. He battled hard for 120 minutes, but it was a grueling night for him.

Midfielders

Federico Dimarco - 6.5: A hard-working shift for 90 minutes. He was solid defensively, winning six of his eight duels. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward, but his main job was to provide defensive stability, which he did well. A disciplined, functional performance before being subbed.

Manuel Locatelli - 7.5: He was brilliant for the 71 minutes he was on the pitch. He acted as a fantastic shield for the defense, making five interceptions and winning most of his duels. He read the game superbly and broke up countless Bosnian attacks. Italy looked much less secure after he went off.

Matteo Politano - 6.0: He was on the pitch for just 45 minutes and didn't really get into the game. He was the unfortunate victim of a tactical switch after the red card. Can't fault his effort, but his impact was minimal.

Sandro Tonali - 6.5: He ran his socks off for 120 minutes. It was a mixed performance; he drew fouls and worked hard defensively but was also a bit wasteful in possession. You can never fault his commitment, and he kept going right until the final whistle. A tireless display in the engine room.

Nicolò Barella - 7.5: A touch of class in the Italian midfield for 85 minutes. His pass for Kean's goal was perfectly weighted, though it wasn't a direct assist. His own passing was crisp and accurate throughout, and he looked a level above. Italy missed his control when he was substituted.

Forwards

Mateo Retegui - 5.5: An unlucky evening for the striker. He barely had a chance to get going before he was sacrificed for a defender following Bastoni's red card. He had one shot on target in his 44 minutes but was otherwise isolated. Hard to judge him on this performance.

Moise Kean - 7.0: Scored an absolute thunderbolt of a goal to give Italy the lead. He looked sharp and dangerous in the first half. His influence waned as the team was forced to defend, and he was eventually substituted after 71 minutes. His goal was a moment of pure individual brilliance.

Substitutes

Federico Gatti - 6.5: Brought on to fill the gap left by the red card and did a commendable job under constant pressure.

Francesco Pio Esposito - 7.0: Looked very lively when he came on. He was a good outlet on the counter and was denied a goal by a great save.

Marco Palestra - 6.0: Provided fresh legs and worked hard defensively after coming on at halftime.

Bryan Cristante - 6.0: Came on to add some defensive muscle to the midfield and did his job.

Davide Frattesi - N/A: A late sub with little time to impact the game.

Leonardo Spinazzola - N/A: Played in extra time but wasn't a major factor.

Manager

I. Gattuso - 6.5: His game plan was working perfectly until the red card. He was forced to react, and his defensive setup was brave and organized. His team fought incredibly hard to hang on. He couldn't mastermind a win, but given he was a man down for over an hour, holding on for a draw was a decent result.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Gianluigi Donnarumma.