Should the Azzurri reach the final stage of World Cup qualifying, they would face the winner of the match between Craig Bellamy’s team and the side led by Sergej Barbarez on the road
The bogey teams of Sweden and North Macedonia have been avoided, but Northern Ireland does not evoke positive memories for Italy. In January 1958, the Azzurri suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat in Belfast and were eliminated from the World Cup in Sweden. On March 26, however, Gattuso’s national team has the chance to get revenge in the semifinal (single-leg match) of the 2026 World Cup playoffs, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer. Italy will play this match at home (Bergamo is the favorite), as they were seeded. A potential final on March 31, against either Wales or Bosnia, will instead be an away match for the Azzurri. This was decided today by the draw in Zurich. Sixteen European national teams will participate in the playoffs: the 12 that finished second in their respective qualifying groups (including Italy) plus the four teams that qualified through the 2024-25 Nations League. Let’s explore the strengths, weaknesses, stars, and key assets of the Azzurri’s two potential opponents in the final.
Wales held its own against Belgium until the very end in Group J, finishing second with 16 points: the record stands at five wins, one draw, and two losses, both coming in the two head-to-head matches against the Red Devils. Worth noting are the goals scored: 21 in eight matches. A sign of a team committed to attack.
the star— The golden nugget is Brennan Johnson, Tottenham’s center forward. He is the spearhead of the Welsh attack: he is fast, technically skilled, and accustomed to always attacking the deep spaces. The Italian defenders, should they face him, have been warned. In the qualifying round, he scored two goals and provided one assist: he is not a prolific scorer, but he is always a presence throughout the ninety minutes. In 2023, Spurs spent €55 million to sign him from Nottingham Forest.
how they play— Wales played in many different ways during the qualifying campaign. Their preferred formation is 4-2-3-1, though they have often used two strikers. The wide play is one of the British national team’s strengths, especially on the right where former Manchester United player Daniel James plays. Captain Harry Wilson, a midfielder, has sometimes been deployed as a lone striker to avoid giving away clues. Wales is not a very physical team, but they run hard and play with extra intensity at home. For Italy, this could prove to be a tough hurdle to overcome. Typical lineup (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Williams, Lawlor, Rodon, Dasilva; Wilson, Sheehan, Wilson; James, Cullen, Brooks; Johnson.
Head Coach— Craig Bellamy has been Wales’ head coach since 2024. As a player, he was a prolific striker who played for Manchester City and Liverpool, among others. At 46, he is in the prime of his coaching career, which began ten years ago with Cardiff’s youth teams and continued at Anderlecht and Burnley. Off the field, he has had more than a few run-ins with the law: in 2002, he was involved in a brawl with a student; in 2006, he was acquitted of assault charges brought by two women; during a 2009 Manchester derby, he punched a United fan who had invaded the pitch; and in 2011, he was arrested for fighting. In short, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Bosnia came within a hair’s breadth of direct qualification for the World Cup, finishing second in Group H with 17 points, behind Austria, with whom they drew 1-1 on the final matchday. Their record stands at five wins, two draws, and one loss: not a bad run, but it wasn’t enough.
The star— He may be 39 years old, but Edin Dzeko remains the star of his national team. In the qualifying round, he scored 5 goals, which weren’t enough to secure direct qualification. Despite a difficult season with Fiorentina, the former Inter player remains the record-holder for appearances (146) and goals (72) with Bosnia. Against Wales in the semifinals, Dzeko hopes to arrive in the best possible condition. Also worth mentioning are Muharemovic, a defender for Sassuolo, and Kolasinac of Atalanta: a mix of youth and experience.
How they play— In their recent qualifying matches, Bosnia took the field with a 4-3-3 formation, switching to a 4-2-3-1 when necessary. Dzeko leads the attack, often flanked by Memic and Alajbegovic on the wings. Also missing from the lineup is Demirovic, the Stuttgart striker, who has been sidelined for some time with a foot injury. In midfield is former Roma player Tahirovic, born in 2003, a dynamic and hard-working central midfielder. Overall, the team is solid; they haven’t played in a World Cup since 2014 but possess experience and quality. Overall, it is an attack-minded team: 17 goals scored in the qualifying group stage over eight matches and just 7 conceded. Typical lineup (4-3-3): Vasilij; Malic, Radeljic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Tahirovic, Sunjic, Gigovic; Demirovic, Dzeko, Dedic.
The coach— Bosnia’s head coach is Sergej Barbarez, who has been in charge since last year. He has a background as a player in Germany, having played for Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Union Berlin, and Hannover, and with 330 appearances, he is the foreign player with the most appearances in the Bundesliga. He played 47 games for the Bosnian national team.
