Italians filled the Dragons' net at Bilino Polje

(Patria) - We harbored hope that the Dragons would offer a performance similar to the one in Turin half a year ago, but the opposite happened. Italy tonight filled the net of the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Bilino Polje and achieved a 0:3 victory in the ninth round match of Group J of the qualifiers for the 2020 European Championship.

The match began with a dangerous attack by our national team in the first minute, but Džeko was ultimately offside. On the other side, Bonucci had a chance, but the Dragons' defense cleared the danger. Our team launched another good counter-attack in the sixth minute, but lacked the finishing touch. Bičakčić headed the ball after a corner in the eighth minute, but Donnarumma saved. Three minutes later, Džeko tried, and the Italian goalkeeper was once again secure, writes scsport.ba.

Italy had a great chance in the 15th minute, but Kvržić blocked Insigne's shot. Already in the 18th minute, another great opportunity was seen for the Azzurri, and this time Šehić saved Bernardeschi's shot from two meters. The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute. Acerbi found himself in our penalty area, outmaneuvered his markers, and beautifully scored for 0:1. Džeko took a shot in the 23rd minute that went far over the goal.

The Dragons could have scored in the 31st minute, but Bešić's shot was blocked. Italy doubled their lead in the 37th minute when Insigne shot from about ten meters and hit our net. Towards the end of the first half, the Dragons had two great chances, but Donnarumma excelled on both occasions. First, he stopped Cimirot's shot in the 39th minute, and then Krunić a minute later. The first half ended with the Italians leading 0:2.

The second half started poorly for our national team. After eight minutes of play in the second half, Belotti scored beautifully for 0:3. After the third goal by the Azzurri, a calmer period of the match followed, and there were no major chances for a long time. In the 76th minute, Džeko shot over the goal. On the other side, in the 81st minute, Belotti sent the ball over the goal from a free kick. Towards the end, there was another poor attempt by Hodžić, and the match ended 0:3.

The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina had already said goodbye to qualifying for the European Championship through the qualifiers, and tonight, after Finland's victory against Liechtenstein, they also lost their theoretical chances before the match against the Azzurri.