Dzeko declares injury a twist of fate as Bosnia seal World Cup place in shootout

## Summary
Advertisement Sport Dzeko declares injury a twist of fate as Bosnia seal World Cup place in shootout Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Finals - Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy - Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina - March 31, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Dzeko celebrates qualifying for the FIFA World Cup REUTERS/Amel Emric Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Finals - Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy - Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina - March 31, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Dzeko in action with Italy's Sandro Tonali REUTERS/Amel Emric 02 Apr 2026 12:41AM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST April 1 : Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko could only clutch an ice pack and watch as his teammates secured World Cup qualification, the 40-year-old declaring it must have been "fate" after a last-gasp injury ruled him out of Tuesday's penalty shootout against Italy. Home fans must have feared the worst when Bosnia's all-time top scorer made his way to the centre circle for the coin toss holding an ice pack on his shoulder, and in the end the striker left the pre-shootout formalities to a teammate. "I keep saying it must have been fate, for it to happen in the last second of the match, and then for me not to be able to take a penalty," Dzeko said at a euphoric press conference on Wednesday. Dzeko, who played and scored in Bosnia's only previous World Cup appearance in 2014, joined in the jubilant celebrations wearing a sling - still in place during the press conference - but sounded optimistic about his prospects of recovering in time for the finals. "We're all relieved about the arm, it's not the worst‑case scenario," Dzeko said. "Most likely it won't need surgery.

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Dzeko declares injury a twist of fate as Bosnia seal World Cup place in shootout
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Finals - Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy - Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina - March 31, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Dzeko celebrates qualifying for the FIFA World Cup REUTERS/Amel Emric
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Finals - Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy - Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina - March 31, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Edin Dzeko in action with Italy's Sandro Tonali REUTERS/Amel Emric
02 Apr 2026 12:41AM
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April 1 : Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko could only clutch an ice pack and watch as his teammates secured World Cup qualification, the 40-year-old declaring it must have been "fate" after a last-gasp injury ruled him out of Tuesday's penalty shootout against Italy.
The game in Zenica ended 1-1 after extra time, with Bosnia coming from behind against 10-man Italy in a match full of dramatic twists and turns, and Dzeko hit the deck in the dying seconds after a foul by Davide Frattesi.
Home fans must have feared the worst when Bosnia's all-time top scorer made his way to the centre circle for the coin toss holding an ice pack on his shoulder, and in the end the striker left the pre-shootout formalities to a teammate.
"I keep saying it must have been fate, for it to happen in the last second of the match, and then for me not to be able to take a penalty," Dzeko said at a euphoric press conference on Wednesday.
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"Someone else stepped up instead of me, scored, and in the end we won.
"Who knows, maybe if I had taken it, I wouldn't have scored, so it all feels like it comes from above."
Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj did not even need to make a save during the shootout. Pio Esposito blazed Italy's first spot kick high over the bar and Bryan Cristante's penalty rocked the crossbar, while the hosts put away all four penalties.
Bosnia's final two takers, 18‑year‑old Kerim Alajbegovic and 21‑year‑old Esmir Bajraktarevic, have a combined age lower than Dzeko's, yet both stepped up with remarkable composure to convert.
Dzeko, who played and scored in Bosnia's only previous World Cup appearance in 2014, joined in the jubilant celebrations wearing a sling - still in place during the press conference - but sounded optimistic about his prospects of recovering in time for the finals.
"We're all relieved about the arm, it's not the worst‑case scenario," Dzeko said.
"Most likely it won't need surgery. So I hope that in maybe a month, month and a half, I should be back."
Source: Reuters
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "Someone else stepped up instead of me, scored, and in the end we won. "Who knows, maybe if I had taken it, I wouldn't have scored, so it all feels like it comes from above." Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj did not even need to make a save during the shootout.

### Implications
- Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST April 1 : Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko could only clutch an ice pack and watch as his teammates secured World Cup qualification, the 40-year-old declaring it must have been "fate" after a last-gasp injury ruled him out of Tuesday's penalty shootout against Italy.
- So I hope that in maybe a month, month and a half, I should be back." Source: Reuters Newsletter Recommended Read Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers bosnia, dzeko, fast topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 687.