By Field Level Media
For the third consecutive tournament, four-time World Cup winners Italy will be on the outside looking in during World Cup competition.
In UEFA playoff action on Tuesday, host Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Italy in penalty kicks in the city of Zenica, knocking FIFA’s 12th-ranked team out of consideration. Italy has not been part of the World Cup field since 2014.
Bosnia, which entered the match as the world’s No. 71 side, earned its first World Cup entry since 2014 with the 1-1 (4-1) verdict.
Italy owned a 1-0 lead when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a red card in the 41st minute. Bosnia knotted the match on Haris Tabakovic’s goal in the 79th minute.
Bosnia-Herzegovina joins Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B for the 48-team World Cup competition that begins June 11 and concludes July 19.
Czechia 2, Denmark 2
Czechia claimed its first World Cup berth since 2006 by winning penalty kicks 3-1 in Prague.
The teams were tied 1-1 going into extra time. Czechia took the lead on Ladislav Krejci’s score, but Denmark’s Kasper Hogh delivered in the 111th minute to force penalty kicks.
Czechia, which jumped from 43rd to 41st in the FIFA rankings with its upset of No. 20 Denmark, collects a Group A spot. Mexico, South Africa and South Korea round out the quartet.
Sweden 3, Poland 2
Viktor Gyokeres scored in the 88th minute to lift Sweden to the slight upset in Solna, Sweden, and the accompanying World Cup berth.
Poland lost despite owning 66.7% of possession. Poland also claimed an edge in shots on goal (7-5) and corner kicks (9-2).
Sweden joins Group F with Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Turkey 1, Kosovo 0
Turkey will participate in the World Cup for the first time since 2004 thanks to its victory in Pristina, Kosovo.
Turkey broke through in the 53rd minute when Kerem Akturkoglu one-timed a shot from close range. With the win, the side moved up three spots in the rankings to No. 22.
Turkey advances to take the final spot in Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
DR Congo 1, Jamaica 0
Axel Tuanzebe broke the deadlock in the 100th minute and sent DR Congo into the World Cup with an intercontinental playoff win over Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Brian Cipenga’s low corner kick found the knee of a charging Tuanzebe, whose shot hopped into the far corner before Jamaica and Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake could dive to stop it.
The nation has been to just one previous World Cup, 1974, when it was known as Zaire. DR Congo will compete in Group K against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
–Field Level Media
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