ITALY’S WORLD CUP MISS: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENTS

If you are a huge fan of football, one thing you should know is that the game is unpredictable. Winning isn’t based on FIFA rankings alone. Sometimes, it’s not the best team on the pitch that wins, not even the smartest or best-coached team. Sometimes, the winners are simply the luckiest. And well, most times, the best team, the best-coached side, and the highest-ranked team wins. That’s what makes football, football.

The Italian national team yesterday failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia. The last time Italy participated in the World Cup was in 2014, exactly 12 years ago. However, the Italy vs Bosnia match is not really about luck, because I believe Bosnia were the better side on the day.

Looking at the FIFA rankings, beating Bosnia should have been a walkover for Italy. That was what the whole world thought, including the Italian players.

A few days before the World Cup playoffs, the Italian players were seen smiling after their opponents were confirmed. Instead of facing Wales, who they expected to beat Bosnia and give them a tougher challenge, something unexpected happened—Bosnia defeated Wales.

Of course, the Italian players believed that, based on the quality of both squads, it would be almost impossible for Bosnia to get past them. They were confident—but they probably forgot something important: the same Bosnia team they saw as easy opponents had just defeated Wales, the team they feared.

If a supposedly weaker opponent can defeat your stronger rival, doesn’t that make them even more dangerous?

That’s probably what the Italians failed to realize. They underestimated Bosnia’s abilities, went into the match overconfident, and ended up losing fair and square.

Now, some people are saying Bosnia has no business being in the World Cup and would only go there to lose. But if Italy were truly good enough, they would have secured qualification. They failed to do so, partly because they overrated themselves.

For me, Italy’s fall teaches an important lesson: never underestimate anyone.