Italy's Defeated 'Band Criminals' Bastoni pushed stupid tackle to '16-year dark age' Red Card

*This content was translated by AI.

Italian football collapsed with just one reckless tackle. Defensive key Alessandro Bastoni (27)'s Red Card was pushed into the tragedy of being eliminated from the World Cup.

Italy lost the penalty shootout 1-4 after drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup European Qualifying Playoff (PO) Pass A final at Villino Polyye Stadion in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 1st (Korea time).

Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, has not made the finals for three consecutive times since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Although the number of participating countries in the finals has increased to 48, the tournament has nevertheless been eliminated from the preliminary round.

Bosnia, who won, qualified for the World Cup for the second time since the 2014 Brazil Games. Bosnia will be in Group B of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup group stage and face Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

Italy took the lead with Moise Keane's first goal in the 15th minute of the first half. However, Bastoni's Red Card in the 41st minute put him outnumbered, and eventually allowed Bosnia's Harris Tabakovic to equalize in the 34th minute of the second half. In the penalty shootout that followed, Bosnia had all four kickers, but Italy collapsed with the first and third kickers missing.

After the game, Sporting News, which specializes in sports, sheds light on Bastoni's Red Card situation and analyzes it as the decisive loser of the elimination. "In the 42nd minute of the first half, Bastoni went after Bosnian striker Amar Memmich and was directly hit by a direct Red Card for attempting an excessive sliding tackle," the media said. "It may have been an inevitable dangerous choice not to give up a chance alone, but this action pushed Italy to the extreme situation of numerical inferiority."

"With Bastoni's Red Card, Italy had to endure 78 minutes with 10 players until the 30th minute of extra time as well as 48 minutes left in regular time," he said. "The Italian defense, who was completely physically exhausted while lacking one, eventually dedicated a painful equalizer to Bosnia and had no choice but to give up the lead in the ensuing penalty shootout."

Bastoni's Red Card is also a bitter record in the history of the Italian national team. "It is the first time in about 10 years that an Italian player has received a red card in a World Cup qualifying match since Giorgio Chiellini, who was sent off due to accumulated warnings against Israel in 2016," the media said.

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*This content was translated by AI.