Italy Veterans Aware 2026 World Cup Is Their 'Last Chance' Italy’s senior players are acutely aware that the 2026 World Cup represents their final opportunity to compete on the global stage, with the team’s generation facing the prospect of missing out on the tournament for the third consecutive time. The Azzurri’s recent 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the World Cup playoff semifinals has set up a crucial showdown against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, where the winner will secure a spot in Group B of the upcoming tournament. The stakes are high, as Italy has not qualified for the World Cup since 2018, with a painful exit to Uruguay in 2014 and subsequent failures in the qualifying playoffs for the last two editions of the competition. For players like winger Matteo Politano, the pressure is palpable. At 32, Politano has never played in a World Cup despite two Serie A titles with Napoli. He acknowledges that time is running out for his generation, stating, “We all know what we’re playing for. For me, and for a few of the other senior players, it’s probably our last chance.” This sentiment is echoed by defenders who must confront a familiar challenge: containing Bosnia’s 40-year-old forward Edin Dzeko, a player they have faced in club settings. Dzeko, who has scored 73 international goals, including a headed equalizer against Wales in a penalty shootout, poses a significant threat due to his physicality and aerial ability. Dzeko’s history with Italy’s defenders adds another layer to the matchup. He was a teammate of Gianluca Mancini, Riccardo Calafiori, and Alessandro Bastoni during their time at AS Roma from 2015 to 2021. Dzeko later joined Inter Milan, where he played alongside Bastoni in the squad that reached the 2023 Champions League final.#italy #edin_dzeko #bosnia_and_herzegovina #matteo_politano #gianluca_mancini
