Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali enduring a nightmare Tuesday night.
It all looked to be going according to plan at the Stadium Bilino Polje in Zenica.
In the 15th minute, Vasilj played a terrible ball straight to Nicolo Barella, he passed to Moise Kean, the Fiorentina striker then curled a tremendous finish into the top corner to seemingly send Italy a major step towards the World Cup finals.
However, the key turning point came on 41 minutes for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Last man Bastoni scythed Memic down and Italy down to ten men.
It then became a case of whether Italy could see out the match with ten men as the hosts dominated, although Kean could and should have made it 2-0 on a rare break.
Just when they looked to be running down the clock, with 11 minutes remaining, Donnarumma brilliantly saved Edin Dzeko’s header, only for Tabakovic to knock in the rebound almost on the line.
Sandro Tonali put in an epic shift in midfield and Italy survived the 30 minutes of added time, so it was down to penalties.
Bosnia-Herzegovina scored all of their first four penalties, whilst Sandro Tonali was the only successful one for Italy.
A nightmare for the Newcastle United midfielder and his international teammates.
Amazingly, this means it will be at least 16 years in between world cups for Italy. They last got to the finals in 2014, having failed in 2018, 2022 and now 2026, so 2030 will be the earliest when they could eventually reach a world cup finals once again.
I remember as a kid how strange it was growing up and not seeing England at the 1974 and 1978 world cup final, I was too young to remember 1970 and so 1982 in Spain was the first I saw England competing in.
This is the March 2026 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Wednesday 25 March
Bermuda 0 DR Congo 2 (Friendly)
Yoane Wissa scoring a 51st minute penalty, as DR Congo warm up for their all or nothing World Cup play-off match.
Thursday 26 March
Italy 2 Northern Ireland 0
A brilliant man of the match performance from Sandro Tonali, as he scored a quality volley to put Italy ahead in this World Cup play-off semi-final, then getting an assist for Moise Kean as his goal made sure of progress to a World Cup play-off final next Tuesday against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Denmark 4 North Macedonia 0
William Osula an unused sub as the Danes progress to the World Cup play-off finals, set to face Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Ukraine 1 Sweden 3
Anthony Elanga subbed off in added time having helped Sweden progress to the World Cup play-off finals, they will face Poland on Tuesday.
Friday 27 March
England 1 Uruguay 1
Tino Livramento one of only two outfield players to play the full game he did okay. Aaron Ramsdale an unused sub.
Lewis Hall got the last 20 minutes and did okay, like Tino. Whilst Harvey Barnes also got 20 minutes and was pretty much anonymous, apart from cheated out of his first England goal when he volleyed home a poor Palmer corner, only for Ben White to score instead when tapping it in from a few inches out.
Switzerland 3 Germany 4
Nick Woltemade came on after 63 minutes when Switzerland led 3-2, helping Germany to a 4-3 win. Big Nick playing well when replacing Kai Havertz who had been so poor. Wirtz man of the match though with two assists and two goals. Malick Thiaw an unused sub but not a bad night for him either, as Germany’s central defenders had an atrocious night. The Newcastle pair set to get their chance to start on Monday against Ghana.
Monday 30 March
Germany 2 Ghana 1
Nick Woltemade started in this latest win for Germany. The Newcastle United striker unlucky to see one effort come back off the woodwork, whilst a brilliant flick by Big Nick to set Wirtz up for a ‘goal’ was ruled out for a dubious offside. Germany dominated and should have won at a canter but in the end a penalty from Havertz and a late goal from Undav got the win. Nick Woltemade was subbed off on 78 minutes whilst Malick Thiaw was an unused sub.
Tuesday 31 March
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 Italy 1 AET (Bosnia-Herzegovina win 4-1 on penalties)
This is now three world cup finals in a row that Italy have failed to qualify for. Italy taking the lead on 15 minutes in this play-off but the game all changed on 41 minutes when Bastoni was red carded. Italy held out until 79 minutes with ten men before conceding, then they managed the rest of the 90 minutes plus another half hour extra-time to take it to penalties. Sandro Tonali put in an epic shift in midfield, as Italy played for 80+ minutes a man down. Then the Newcastle United star the only one to convert his penalty in the shootout, the hosts scoring all of their four whilst Tonali’s teammates failed.