Bosnia, Sweden, Turkey and Czechia seal World Cup spots in dramatic playoff night
Tuesday's World Cup playoff finals delivered everything the occasion demanded. Goals, red cards, penalty shootouts, late winners, and one of the biggest shocks in qualifying history as four-time champions Italy were dumped out for the third tournament running.
Bosnia stun Italy on penalties
The headline result came in Zenica, where Bosnia and Herzegovina reached their first ever World Cup by beating Italy 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.
Moise Kean gave Italy the lead in the 15th minute, pouncing after Nicolo Barella pressured goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj into a poor clearance. But Alessandro Bastoni was sent off in the 41st minute for hauling down Amar Memic as the last defender, and Italy spent the rest of the night hanging on with 10 men.
Haris Tabakovic levelled in the 79th minute, prodding home the rebound after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved an Edin Dzeko header. Neither side could find a winner in extra time, and Bosnia buried four of their spot kicks while Italy converted three. Esmir Barjaktarevic slotted the decisive penalty to spark wild celebrations.
Bosnia will face Canada, Switzerland and Qatar in Group B this summer. For Italy, it is a third consecutive World Cup they will watch from home, after missing Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Gyokeres breaks Polish hearts in the 88th minute
In Stockholm, Sweden squeezed past Poland 3-2 in a contest that swung back and forth all evening at the Strawberry Arena. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring before Nicola Zalewski equalised. Gustaf Lagerbielke restored Sweden's lead, but Karol Swiderski pulled Poland level again in the second half.
Just as the game looked destined for extra time, Viktor Gyokeres scrambled in the winner from close range in the 88th minute. The Arsenal striker had already scored a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Ukraine, and his fourth goal in two playoff matches sent Sweden to their first World Cup since 2018. They join the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.
Turkey end 24-year wait
Turkey qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 thanks to Kerem Akturkoglu's 53rd-minute strike in a tight 1-0 win over Kosovo in Pristina. A disciplined defensive display and a vital late save from goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir saw them over the line. They slot into Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
Kosovo, chasing a first ever World Cup appearance, threw everything forward in the closing stages but could not find the equaliser their efforts probably deserved.
Czechia back at the World Cup after 20 years
In Prague, Czechia came through a penalty shootout of their own to beat Denmark 3-1 on spot kicks after a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes. Pavel Sulc fired the hosts ahead inside three minutes, but Joachim Andersen equalised in the 72nd minute to force a nervous finish.
Ladislav Krejci put Czechia back in front in extra time, only for Kasper Hogh to level again. In the shootout, Rasmus Hojlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all missed for Denmark. Michal Sadilek converted the winning kick to send Czechia to their first World Cup since 2006. They will face Mexico, South Korea and South Africa in Group A.
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