Dzeko Questions Italy's Apprehension Over Wales Match Ahead of World Cup Play-Off

Edin Dzeko stated he had no problem with the video showing Federico Dimarco and Guglielmo Vicario celebrating Bosnia's penalty shootout win against Wales. However, he cautioned that if Italy harbored "fear" about playing in Cardiff, it would indicate a deeper issue.

Dzeko: 'I would have preferred not to play against Italy in this final'

Italy and Bosnia are set to clash in Zenica on Tuesday evening, competing for a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Both teams secured their places in this final play-off after defeating Northern Ireland and Wales, respectively, in Thursday's semi-finals.

Italy, the highest-ranked team globally yet to secure a World Cup berth, faces a challenging encounter. They will contend with cold weather and a potentially intimidating atmosphere at Zenica's reduced-capacity Bilino Polje Stadium on Tuesday night.

In the days preceding the play-off final, minor off-field "controversies" have emerged for Italy. One notable incident was a viral video showing Dimarco, Vicario, and several national teammates celebrating Bosnia's penalty shootout win against Wales.

The video garnered mixed reactions, with some critics labeling the Azzurri players as "arrogant" or disrespectful towards their impending adversaries.

During his pre-match press conference in Sarajevo on Monday, Dzeko commented on the clip, saying, "Thankfully, the spotlight has now shifted. Everyone has their preferences regarding opponents. In the age of social media, one must be smart, as things can easily be misconstrued. However, to me, this is quite normal."

When questioned again about the widely discussed video, Dzeko expressed his bewilderment as to why Italy seemingly preferred not to face Wales. He suggested that if a team of Italy's caliber harbored apprehension about playing an away game in Cardiff, it would indicate a significant underlying issue.

Dzeko elaborated, "We all witnessed the events. Honestly, it's a perfectly normal reaction. As I mentioned, everyone has their preferred opponents; personally, I might have wished not to face Italy in this final, so I wouldn't celebrate a win against them. However, today, caution is paramount. We observed Italy's reluctance to play Wales, and I'm unsure why. We, on the other hand, went there fearless and emerged victorious. I don't understand why Italy should fear Wales or Bosnia. They possess an incredible national team, having won four World Cups. If they are apprehensive about playing in Wales, then something isn't right. Perhaps we'll see if they can endure similar pressure in this upcoming match. With so much on the line after missing two World Cups, it implies a certain level of fear. Dimarco messaged me, assuring me he meant no offense, and I conveyed to him what we're discussing now. There's no issue."

Regarding his own team, Dzeko stated, "Our goal is to win, but we must prepare diligently and perform at our peak. The Italians will undoubtedly be well-prepared, as this match is equally crucial for them. I am confident Italy will not underestimate us, particularly after Dimarco and Vicario's public remarks. No one was pleased with how those incidents unfolded. We need to demonstrate our quality, we're playing at home, and we're heavily relying on the support of our fans."

Edin Dzeko spent nearly a decade of his career in Serie A. He recently moved from Fiorentina to Schalke in the 2.Bundesliga, marking his return to German football since his departure from VfL Wolfsburg to Manchester City in 2011.

Dzeko contrasted the two footballing cultures, asserting, "German and Italian football share no similarities. In Germany, intensity dominates, a quality I believe is lacking in the Italian game, a point also highlighted by journalists. Perhaps this contributes to their recent struggles. I anticipate a tactically focused match. Italy, after all, has missed the last two World Cups."

Dzeko also recalled past interactions with Italy's national team head coach, Gennaro Gattuso.

"I met him at the Fiorentina vs. Milan match in Florence," Dzeko recounted. "I told him, 'Mister, I hope to see you in Bosnia,' and here we are. We will face each other in a crucial game for both nations. I have many friends in Italy, and there will be immense respect both before and after the match. Everyone should stand and applaud when the Italian anthem plays. Italy came to play friendly matches after the Bosnian war in 1996, and for that, we remain eternally grateful. For 90 minutes, it will be a battle. Afterwards, we will be friends, just as before. Whatever the outcome, it happens."