Atalanta defender Sead Kolasinac, who caused concern after limping off during the recent match against Wales, has reportedly made a full recovery and is expected to be in the starting lineup for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s critical World Cup play-off encounter against Italy.
The highly anticipated fixture is scheduled to take place at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday, March 31, with kick-off set for 19:45 UK time. Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their place in this final play-off round following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff on Thursday, ultimately prevailing in a penalty shoot-out after extra time.
Bosnia Receives Boost with Kolasinac’s Recovery
Kolasinac’s early exit from the Wales game, approximately an hour into play due to injury, had initially cast doubt over his availability for the decisive play-off final against Italy. However, encouraging reports from the team’s latest training session confirm his successful recovery, indicating he is prepared to start the crucial match.
This timely return means that coach Sergej Barbarez will have his complete squad at his disposal, providing a significant boost to the team’s prospects ahead of their challenging encounter with the Italian national team.
Kolasinac is one of several Bosnia and Herzegovina players with strong ties to Serie A, having joined Atalanta from Olympique Marseille in 2023. Other prominent players in the squad include Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic and the veteran striker Edin Dzeko, known for his impactful career, which included a notable spell with Fiorentina.