Bosnia secured a dramatic World Cup qualification win over Italy on penalties, witnessed by Novak Djokovic, while Italy missed a third straight tournament and the tennis star now shifts focus to the upcoming clay season
The Bosnia vs. Italy clash took center stage in the football world on Tuesday. The match, which determined a spot in this summer’s World Cup, drew millions of viewers on television and nearly 10,000 fans inside Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica.
Among those in attendance was Novak Djokovic, who did not want to miss the occasion. Despite being Serbian, the tennis legend backed Bosnia like any other fan.
He had already shown his support after their win over Wales, posting an image of striker Edin Dzeko on social media with the message “Bravo Edin, bravo Bosnia,” a gesture widely appreciated by Bosnian supporters.
His involvement went even further, as shown by his reaction to the decisive penalty that sealed victory and qualification for the Balkan side.
It was a crushing blow for Italy, which misses out on a third consecutive World Cup, while Bosnia celebrated a historic triumph on home soil.
The match had initially gone against them after Moise Kean’s 15th minute goal, but Alessandro Bastoni’s red card shifted the momentum.
Time, the drama of penalties, and the story of a nation with only one previous World Cup appearance all came together to complete a remarkable chapter.
Meanwhile, Djokovic will return to training in the coming days to prepare for the clay court season.
His campaign will not begin until late April in Madrid, as the former world number one has decided to skip next week’s Monte Carlo event, where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will battle for both the title and the world number one ranking.