Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy

In Zenica, at least two heads will be recorded.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad, made up of eight players who took part in the final playoff matches of the European qualifiers, on Thursday put in more effort than anyone to earn this right. The Czech Republic also played 120 minutes of their semifinal, but Miroslav Koubek's side, who played at their home stadium on Thursday, will also play there on the upcoming Tuesday. For the Bosnians, besides the maximum football package consisting of two halves of regular time, two extra periods, and a penalty shootout, they faced a trip to Belfast and back to face Wales. And the Welsh themselves squeezed every last drop of energy from the Balkan guests. In the extra periods, players of Bosnia and Herzegovina repeatedly fell to the pitch and writhed in pain from cramped leg muscles. Perhaps with all the flights such physical exertion could be mitigated by the Bosnian team's medical staff over the four full days between the semifinal and final, but one should hardly expect maximum tone and freshness from Edin Dzeko and company in the match against Italy. The 40-year-old forward of the Balkan side himself scored the equalizer in the 86th minute against Wales, which allowed the meeting with the Welsh to go into overtime. Italy, from the opening minutes of the match against Northern Ireland, unsettled the opponent's defense, but in the actions of the four-time world champion there was tension and a wild level of responsibility for the result. Given that the Italians missed the last two World Cups, the eventual 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo was received by the local crowd more with relief. Bookmakers set the visitors as favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.60 on their victory. Bosnia and Herzegovina did not look very sharp in the semifinal before the conceded goal. When Dzeko and his teammates were pressed up against the wall, they began to play a more incisive and combination football. That may happen in the match against Italy as well. There is no doubt that the more classy visiting side will take the ball under their control and may score first. Then open football with an abundance of goal-scoring opportunities will begin. Let's bet that in Zenica there will be at least two goals.