Wales, Ireland in shootout heartbreak, Socceroos opponents clearer after Cup qualifying drama

Wales’ World Cup dream was ended by defeat on penalties as Bosnia and Herzegovina set up a play-off final against Italy after coming from behind in Cardiff.

Dan James’ spectacular strike put Craig Bellamy’s side in front before 40-year-old Edin Dzeko rescued the visitors four minutes from time as the 90 minutes ended 1-1.

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Neither side could find a winner as both teams tired in extra time, potentially handing Italy an advantage after they saw off Northern Ireland 2-0.

Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams then failed to convert their spot-kicks before impressive teenager Kerim Alajbegovic coolly slotted home the decisive penalty.

Two years to the day since Wales’ bid to qualify for Euro 2024 was ended on penalties by Poland, they suffered more heartbreak on home soil.

Tellingly they have now failed to qualify for the two major tournaments since Gareth Bale’s retirement from international football after a golden era that included a run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

In the post-Bale era, Harry Wilson has grown into Wales’ talisman and the in-form Fulham midfielder came closest to breaking the deadlock of a bruising first half when his curling effort came back off the inside of the post.

James was on the receiving end of much of Bosnia’s rough treatment as the visitors had three players booked in the opening 39 minutes.

But he bounced back up to open the scoring in style.

James used his pace to latch onto a misplaced pass by Benjamin Tahirovic and caught Nikola Vasilj still retreating towards his own goal by taking his shot early on the half-volley.

Only the crossbar denied James a second after being sent clear by Wilson. At the other end Karl Darlow produced a stunning save to claw Ermedin Demirovic’s header to safety after Dzeko nodded across to his strike partner.

Demirovic then failed to get a telling touch at the back post after Joe Rodon let Esmir Bajraktarevic’s dangerous cross go.

But Bosnia’s pressure finally got its reward thanks to the evergreen Dzeko. The former Manchester City striker rose highest to beat Darlow to a corner and flick in his 73rd international goal.

Wilson came closest to a winner in extra time as his goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by Tarik Muharemovic.

Darlow saved from Demirovic with the first penalty of the shootout to give Wales the advantage.

But Johnson’s effort that flew high and wide swung the momentum back in Bosnia’s favour before Vasilj denied Williams.

Alajbegovic’s introduction as a second-half substitute helped turn the game in his side’s favour and the 18-year-old showed little sign of nerves as he sent Darlow the wrong way to take his country to the brink of just a second World Cup as an independent nation.

IRELAND COUGH UP WORLD CUP DREAM

Goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved two penalties in a shootout to take the Czech Republic past Ireland in their World Cup 2026 qualification play-off in Prague on Thursday.

Eyeing their first World Cup berth since 2006, the Czechs now face Denmark in the play-off final in Prague on March 31 for a ticket to the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Ireland raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half but the Czechs eventually pulled one back with a penalty then equalised just five minutes from time.

After a tense extra-time the Czechs then converted four penalties to Ireland’s three in the shootout.

Troy Parrott opened the scores for Ireland from the spot, beating Kovar at his right post 19 minutes into the game for his sixth goal in this qualifying campaign.

The penalty was awarded following a delayed VAR review of a foul on Ireland skipper Nathan Collins in the Czech box three minutes earlier.

Ireland went two goals up four minutes later when Dara O’Shea headed a corner towards the Czech goal and a disoriented Kovar shoved the ball into the net after a series of deflections.

Patrik Schick brought the hosts within a goal from the spot against the run of play in the 27th minute after Ryan Manning had pulled Czech skipper Ladislav Krejci down in the box.

The Czechs looked toothless for most of the second half, but Krejci headed home from a corner five minutes from time, taking the game into a goalless extra time.

Parrott, Adam Idah and Robbie Brady converted their penalties while Finn Azaz and Alan Browne were denied by Kovar.

Krejci, Tomas Soucek, Patrik Schick and Jan Kliment scored for the hosts in the shootout, with Mojmir Chytil’s poor shot stopped by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Ireland will bemoan wasted chances as Collins and Jayson Molumby hit the woodwork and Parrott was narrowly denied by a diving Kovar with an 80th-minute header.

The Czechs have made amends for a lacklustre qualification during which they swapped coaches just before the play-offs amid mounting criticism from fans and pundits.

On Wednesday, Czech police said they had charged 32 people in a massive crackdown on a match-fixing network, the second such case in less than a decade.

Long-time skipper Soucek lost the captain’s band before the game after a fumbled attempt to console fans dismayed with the qualifying performance last autumn.

PL STAR, REAL MADRID YOUNG GUN EDGE CLOSER TO SOCCEROOS DATE

Turkey kept their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 2002 alive as Ferdi Kadioglu scored a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Romania in their playoff semi-final on Thursday.

Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey will face either Slovakia or Kosovo, who meet later Thursday, away from home on Tuesday for a ticket to the expanded 48-team finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Brighton left-back Kadioglu netted the crucial goal in the 53rd minute and Romania, who last played at the World Cup in 1998, could not find an equaliser in Istanbul despite a late rally.

Turkey, quarter-finalists at Euro 2024, are bidding to reach the showpiece tournament for the first time since finishing third in South Korea and Japan 24 years ago.

“We knew it would be a tough match,” said Turkey skipper Hakan Calhanoglu. “In the first half, we could have made better runs in behind. In the second half, Ferdi scored with a ball in behind... From then, it was ours.”

The home side dominated the ball early but struggled to break down their hard-working opponents, with a Calhanoglu free-kick which flew over the crossbar the closest they came to scoring in the opening 45 minutes.

Romania captain Ianis Hagi had a shot deflected over as his team looked to hit Turkey on the break.

Turkey took the lead, though, eight minutes into the second half as Arda Guler unlocked the Romania defence with a long, raking pass.

Kadioglu took an excellent first touch before calmly slotting a side-footed volley past onrushing goalkeeper Ionut Radu.

Turkey sensed a second goal with the crowd firmly behind them and Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz crashed an excellent strike from outside the box off the top of the bar.

Romania managed to stay in the game, with Radu making a fine diving save to tip away a curling Guler effort.

The visitors almost made Turkey pay for those missed chances, as substitute Nicolae Stanciu curled a shot which bounced off the inside of the post and rolled agonisingly across the face of goal with 11 minutes left.

But that was the closest Romania came to forcing extra time as Turkey moved within one match of qualifying for only a second World Cup in 72 years.

AZZURRI AVOID DISASTER

Italy’s bid to end a 12-year World Cup absence will continue after beating Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday to reach the play-off final.

Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean scored the second-half goals which decided a tight game in Bergamo to book Italy a showdown away from home with either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Tonali’s rocket of a strike in the 56th minute and Kean’s excellent finish 10 minutes from the end were two rare moments of quality from a match which had huge significance for four-time world champions Italy.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso called Thursday’s fixture the biggest match of his coaching career and the tension was palpable both in the stands and on the pitch.

The Azzurri missed the last two World Cup finals in Russia and Qatar and struggled to get past a dogged Northern Ireland team missing Liverpool defender -- and national team skipper -- Conor Bradley and Sunderland defender Dan Ballard.

Gattuso’s team will have to be much sharper whoever they play next week next week if they are to make this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Northern Ireland haven’t been to a World Cup since 1986 but battled gamely until Kean made absolutely sure of the result and made life very difficult for Italy for large chunks of the game.

- Italy through -

A wretched first half of football featured just two shots on target as Italy bumped up against a green and white wall erected by Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles took as much time as possible at every goal kick while the away side’s five-man back line smothered Italy’s strike pairing of Mateo Retegui and Kean.

Federico Dimarco had an early snap shot well kept out by Charles and that was about it for Italian opportunities, beyond Kean smashing high and wide in the 38th minute and Alessandro Bastoni heading over at a corner shortly afterwards.

Retegui, who plays in Saudi Arabia, wasted the best chance of the game seven minutes after half-time, letting his touch get away from him after a misplaced Terry Devlin pass sent him clean through on goal.

Kean had a fierce drive well saved by Charles moments later, but then Retegui’s blushes were saved when Tonali met Isaac Price’s weak clearance on the edge of the penalty box with an unstoppable first-time finish.

Cheers of relief swept the New Balance Arena but the goal didn’t magically loosen up the Italians, who still struggled to break down an opposition team made up largely of lower league players.

But Fiorentina striker Kean, who was possibly Italy’s brightest player on the night, sealed the win when he cut inside Ruairi McConville and stroked home off the post.

That made it job done for the Italians who now face a date with their World Cup destiny.

ARSENAL GUN’S HAT-TRICK INSPIRES SWEDES

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick as Sweden brushed Ukraine aside 3-1 on Thursday to set up a showdown with Poland for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Arsenal striker Gyokeres stabbed in from close range in the sixth minute in Valencia and then doubled Sweden’s lead with a well-taken goal early in the second half.

He won and converted a penalty to complete his treble and seal victory for Graham Potter’s team on 73 minutes, with Matvii Ponomarenko heading in a late consolation for Ukraine.

Remarkably, it was Sweden’s first win of an otherwise dismal qualifying campaign, but one that moved them to the cusp of only a second World Cup appearance in 20 years.

Sweden picked up just two points in six matches in their qualifying group that included Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia but earned another shot on the strength of their Nations League performances.

The Swedes will return home to Stockholm to face Poland, who beat Albania 2-1, next Tuesday to decide which country goes to the expanded 48-team finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Ukraine, forced to play their home games on neutral ground ever since the Russian invasion four years ago, had been hoping to lift the morale of a war-torn country by competing at a first World Cup since their debut in 2006.

Instead they suffered the bitter disappointment of another play-off defeat after missing out to Wales in the last edition.

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