Clumsy Bastoni challenge sees Italy reduced to 10 men against Bosnia and Herzegovina

It was all going so smoothly for the Italy national team in their World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the Azzurri were reduced to 10 men just before the interval after a clumsy last-ditch challenge from Alessandro Bastoni. 

Bosnia are hosting Italy at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica as the two nations do battle for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

You can follow the action as it unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Italy reduced to 10 men against Bosnia and Herzegovina after Bastoni challenge

After a troubling first-half in their play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday, Italy looked to have put their ghosts behind them against Bosnia as Kean struck with a brilliant first-time finish to send Gennaro Gattuso’s side into a 15th-minute lead. 

Italy looked like they were on their way to seeing the half out at 1-0, but they were reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute when Bastoni lunged in for a last-man challenge on Bosnia’s Amar Memic. 

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal-kick was poor, and headed straight back into the Italy half, where Memic looked to be racing in on goal, albeit to the left of the centre of the pitch. Bastoni, the furthest Italy defender back, slid in and was promptly sent off.

In a worryingly bad omen for Italy, referee Clement Turpin was also in charge the last time that Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs, against North Macedonia back in 2018.

Bastoni became the first Italy player to be sent off in a World Cup qualifier for almost a decade, dating back to Giorgio Chiellini’s red against Israel on September 5, 2016. 

The Inter centre-back had already been a divisive figure in Italy in the weeks leading up to the World Cup play-off campaign as a result of his antics during the Derby d’Italia between the Nerazzurri and Juventus in February.

The Italy international was dived, which resulted in the wrongful sending off of Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, and then proceeded to passionately celebrate the decision to send the opponent off. This led to widespread criticism, not just from Juventus supporters, and there were calls from some for Bastoni to be dropped from the Italy squad altogether.

The Nerazzurri defender has also been linked with a potential summer move to Barcelona once the 2025-26 season comes to an end.