The decisive match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy for the 2026 World Cup spot was filled with memorable and controversial situations during the penalty shootout.
Italy’s national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma tried to apply psychological pressure on the opponent goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. In the penalty shootout, the Italians missed their opportunity, losing 1:4, and for the third consecutive time failed to qualify for the World Cup.
However, the most notable and controversial moment occurred during a strike by “Inter” forward Francesco Esposito. In the broadcast, it was seen that Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma took the paper with the opponent’s penalty notes, passed behind the goal, tore it up, and threw it far onto the field.
This action was noticed by “St. Pauli” goalkeeper Vasil, who engaged in a brief verbal confrontation with Donnarumma and complained to the referee. According to the publication “SportSport,” Donnarumma did not just discard the paper but tore it, causing serious damage.
As a result, these controversial and dramatic events did not help Italy: the “Squadra Azzurra” still lost and faced a historic humiliation. This was also recorded as a memorable and controversial moment in the history of Italian football during World Cup qualification.
