Italy World Cup fears grow after referee named for Bosnia showdown

For Italy’s high-stakes World Cup qualifying playoff final against Bosnia in Zenica, UEFA has appointed French referee Clément Turpin, a name that brings back painful memories for the Azzurri.

The familiar name Italy didn’t want to see

Would Italy have preferred someone else? Possibly. There’s never been much chemistry between the Azzurri and Turpin, the experienced French official selected to oversee Tuesday’s decisive clash on March 31.

Turpin will be joined by an all-French crew. Assistants Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages will work the sidelines, while Jérôme Brisard will handle VAR duties alongside assistant Willy Delajod. The only non-French official is fourth referee José María Sánchez of Spain.

Why Italy fans are uneasy about Turpin

Even before the referee announcement, there was already a sense of anxiety surrounding the match. Italy has missed the last two World Cups, an unthinkable drought for one of soccer’s traditional powers.

Turpin’s appointment has only heightened those nerves.

He was the referee on March 24, 2022, when Italy suffered a stunning home defeat to North Macedonia in Palermo in a World Cup playoff semifinal. Aleksandar Trajkovski’s late goal sealed a 1-0 loss that knocked Italy out of contention for the tournament in Qatar, one of the most painful moments in recent team history.

Not all bad under Turpin

That night still looms large, but it does not tell the full story.

In five total matches officiated by Turpin, Italy has won three. Those victories came against Uruguay in a friendly, Poland in the UEFA Nations League, and Israel in a World Cup qualifier. Notably, Italy did not concede a single goal in any of those wins.

So while Turpin’s presence may stir uneasy memories, the broader track record offers some reassurance. In the end, as the saying goes, luck plays its part. And in soccer, it rarely follows a script.

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Italy World Cup fears grow after referee named for Bosnia showdown