Friday’s briefing: World Cup dream dies for Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland

Wales and the Republic of Ireland both suffered World Cup play-off heartbreak on penalties, while Northern Ireland’s dreams were ended after losing to Italy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Wales 4-2 in the semi-final shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff, while the Republic of Ireland lost 4-3 on spot-kicks in Prague.

Michael O’Neill’s young Northern Ireland side fell to a 2-0 defeat in Bergamo.

Wales suffer penalty heartbreak

Wales suffered World Cup play-off heartbreak as Bosnia and Herzegovina won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.

Craig Bellamy’s men were just four minutes from booking a home play-off final on Tuesday after Daniel James had fired them ahead with a stunning strike shortly after half-time.

But Edin Dzeko – who turned 40 earlier this month – extended his record Bosnia goals tally to 73 by climbing above the home defence and nodding home from a corner.

Neither side could force a winner in 30 added minutes and Wales drew first blood in the shoot-out as Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic’s kick.

But Brennan Johnson blazed over and Neco Williams saw Nikola Vasilj push away his penalty, which allowed Kerim Alajbegovic to slot home and keep Bosnia’s World Cup dream alive.

Wales boss Bellamy said: “I hurt tonight as it sinks in now. It will be a sleepless night, difficult to sleep off the back of this one. But it makes me even more determined tomorrow.

“The sun will rise, and I’m going to watch that sun rise. Then straight away, how do I go again? How do I improve? How does this team get better?

“Let’s get over tonight, but there’s a bright future.”

Czech mate for Republic of Ireland

Jan Kliment fired the Czech Republic to within 90 minutes of the World Cup finals as they broke Republic of Ireland hearts in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to set up a showdown with Denmark.

Substitute Kliment scored the decisive spot-kick at the Fortuna Arena after Finn Azaz and Alan Browne had seen their efforts saved by Matej Kovar to book a winner-takes-all clash with the Danes on Tuesday night.

Ireland had come within four minutes of victory when Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci headed the hosts level on a night when the visitors had led 2-0 after just 23 minutes to leave them dreaming of a first World Cup adventure since 2002.

Troy Parrott – whose hat-trick in Hungary booked their place in the play-off semi-finals – nervelessly converted a 19th-minute penalty before Kovar’s unfortunate own goal, and it took a 27th-minute spot-kick from Patrik Schick to drag Miroslav Koubek’s men back into it in his first game at the helm.

Skipper Krejci’s intervention took the tie to extra time and it was the Czechs who squeezed through 4-3 on penalties despite Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men producing a performance of real character.

“I feel pride for the performance of the players,” Hallgrimsson said. “They gave it all. I feel gratitude towards the supporters who showed up and supported us the whole game, even after the loss.

“I feel pride being a part of that group, but personally – and I know the players will feel pain now, only pain, I would say.”

Italian job too much for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams were ended by Italy as Michael O’Neill’s young side slipped to a 2-0 qualifying play-off semi-final defeat in Bergamo.

Although Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, they were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.

Having reached half-time with the match still goalless, Northern Ireland successfully ramped up the tension inside the Stadio di Bergamo.

It was, though, released in the 56th minute when Tonali capitalised on a poor clearance from Isaac Price to thrash home, with Kean making sure with a late second.

O’Neill said: “I couldn’t ask any more from the players. Our game plan in the first half is excellent. We gave them very few chances.

“Once you are behind in the game it is difficult, but I thought our attitude throughout the game, our level of performance, was terrific.”

What’s on today?

England step up their World Cup preparations with a friendly at Wembley against Uruguay, managed by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.

There are also European Under-21 Championship qualifiers on Friday, when Lee Carsley’s Young Lions are away to minnows Andorra looking to maintain their perfect record in Group D.

Scotland host the Czech Republic at Dens Park, while Wales take on Belarus at Rodney Parade and Northern Ireland play Germany in Braunschweig.