Edin Dzeko is a familiar face for Italy”s defenders in World Cup playoff at Bosnia

ROME: (Mar 31) If Italy is going to qualify for its first World Cup in 12 years, the Azzurri’s defenders are going to have to contain a striker they respect and know well.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 40-year-old forward Edin Dzeko has been a club teammate of all three of Italy’s starting defenders.

Dzeko played with Gianluca Mancini and Riccardo Calafiori while he was at Roma from 2015-21. Having then moved to Inter Milan, Dzeko teamed with Alessandro Bastoni on the squad that reached the 2023 Champions League final.