With everything on the line, Edin Džeko isn’t holding back.
Speaking ahead of the decisive World Cup playoff against Italy, the Bosnia captain delivered a mix of respect, mind games, and subtle digs at the Azzurri—questioning both their mentality and their evolution as a team.
“No problem with Dimarco”
Džeko first addressed the recent controversy involving Federico Dimarco, making it clear there’s no bad blood.
“Dimarco wrote to me, he said he didn’t mean to offend anyone,” Džeko explained. “I told him—what are we even talking about? There’s no issue.”
He also pointed out how quickly situations can escalate in the social media era.
“Nowadays everything gets blown out of proportion. You have to be careful.”
A jab at Italy’s mindset
But when the conversation shifted to the match itself, Džeko’s tone changed.
“I don’t understand why they didn’t want to play in Wales,” he said. “Italy is an incredible national team, with four World Cups. If they’re afraid of playing in Wales, then something isn’t working.”
It’s a pointed comment aimed directly at Italy’s psychological fragility—a recurring theme after two missed World Cups.
“They have a lot at stake,” he added. “That can bring pressure. And maybe, fear.”
“Not the Italy of the past”
Džeko also highlighted what he sees as a key difference between this Italy side and the legendary teams of the past.
“They don’t have players like Francesco Totti or Alessandro Del Piero anymore,” he said. “There’s quality, but those players were different.”
Still, he acknowledged his deep connection with Italian football, having spent nearly a decade in Serie A.
“I love Italy. I had nine beautiful years there. This match will mean a lot to me.”
Home advantage and a physical battle
Bosnia will rely heavily on home support in Zenica, where the atmosphere is expected to be intense.
“We’re playing at home, with our fans behind us,” Džeko said. “We have to show our quality.”
He also dismissed concerns about the pitch conditions.
“A bad field? Italian players are used to that—some pitches there aren’t better,” he added with a smile.
Barbarez’s plan: defend and survive
Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez offered a glimpse into his tactical mindset—with a mix of humor and realism.
“If we score, we’ll park the bus,” he said. “If we concede, we’ll move it somewhere else.”
A joke, perhaps—but one that reflects Bosnia’s pragmatic approach.
Mind games underway
With kickoff approaching, the psychological battle has clearly begun.
Džeko’s words are part confidence, part provocation—but the message is clear:
Bosnia believes. And they think Italy might be vulnerable.
Now, it’s up to the Azzurri to prove otherwise.
