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A place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be at stake when Bosnia & Herzegovina take on Italy at Bilino Polje Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts, who are currently on a five-match unbeaten run, will set their sights on qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the second time in history.
On the other hand, four-time champions Italy are on a quest to return to the world's biggest stage for the first time in 12 years.
Read our Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy prediction, preview and betting tips. You can also check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
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Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy key stats
- At least three goals were scored in six of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s last eight matches and in five of Italy's last seven games.
- Both teams were on the scoresheet in Bosnia & Herzegovina’s last six fixtures.
- Italy have drawn first blood in five consecutive matches.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy preview: Can Bosnia pull off a remarkable upset?
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | vs | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 71st | FIFA ranking | 13th |
| Edin Dzeko (147) | Most caps | Gianluigi Donnarumma (80) |
| Edin Dzeko (73) | Most goals | Moise Kean (12) |
| 505 | Total caps | 632 |
| 91 | Total goals | 80 |
| 2 | Uncapped players | 2 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina needed a penalty shootout to upset Wales in their play-off semi-final clash a few days ago. Sergej Barbarez's men are brimming with confidence ahead of this clash, having strung together a five-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Amar Dedic sustained an injury against Wales and will be absent against Italy, while Adrian Barisic and Luka Kulenovic are both unavailable this month due to injury.
Bosnia & Herzegovina have found the net in 12 consecutive matches across all competitions.
Goalkeeper Osman Hadzikic and defender Nidal Celik remain the uncapped players in the Dragons' current squad, and there is a slim chance that neither of them will see minutes in the playoff final.
Evergreen Edin Dzeko, who recently extended his caps and goals for Bosnia and Herzegovina to 147 and 73, respectively, will lead the line once again, probably with Ermedin Demirovic in the final third, while Serie A defenders Sead Kolasinac and Tarik Muharemovic are both expected to be in the starting XI.
Italy, on the other hand, defeated Northern Ireland by two unanswered goals in their semi-final encounter. The Azzurri will hope to make up for a disappointing qualifying campaign in which they finished behind Norway by advancing to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Gianluca Scamacca, Federico Chiesa, Riccardo Orsolini, and Mattia Zaccagni are all absent for the visitors due to injury, but there is enough quality available for Gennaro Gattuso to steer his troops to victory.
Both nations have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 2014.
Gattuso is expected to name a near-similar starting XI from the win against Northern Ireland, probably with Inter Milan's Francesco Pio Exposito featuring in attack alongside Moise Kean at the expense of Mateo Retegui.
Goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi and Elia Caprile have yet to taste official minutes for the senior team, as Gianluigi Donnarumma has made the sticks his own for long time. The Manchester City shot-stopper is expected to man the goalpost for this game as the Italians eye a 19th World Cup appearance.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy form guide & betting tips
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | vs | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| D-W-W-D-W | Form | W-W-W-L-W |
| 11 | Goals For | 11 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 2 |
Whispers Predicts: Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-2 Italy
At 1.59, Italy are considered favourites by the bookies. Although the Azzurri finished second in Group I, it is fair to note that they won six of their eight qualifying games.
Despite Bosnia & Herzegovina’s resilience, we are leaning toward Italy for the win; given their pedigree in the FIFA World Cup.
Keeping in mind that both teams have been involved in their fair share of high-scoring games, over 2.5 total goals at 2.15 seems like good value.
Moreover, Bosnia & Herzegovina's last six games featured goals at both ends, so we also fancy BTTS - Yes at 2.25.
> BTTS - Yes at 2.25 | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 2.5 goals at 2.15 | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result - Italy at 1.59 | Likelihood: Probable
> Italy & BTTS - Yes at 4.10 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 1-2 at 8.80 | Likelihood: Outsider