GERMANY PERSPECTIVE

"Das Triple des Scheiterns ist perfekt" — the triple of failure is complete. Germany watches the Italian collapse with a mix of schadenfreude and migrant pride. Moise Kean opens scoring at the 15th minute, Bastoni receives red at the 41st, Italy barricades itself, Haris Tabakovic of Mönchengladbach equalizes at the 79th, and two of three Italian penalty takers miss.

But Bosnia's victory reveals the real German angle. "Bosnien-Herzegowina: WM-Ticket mit deutschem Anstrich" — World Cup ticket with a German touch. Six Bosnian players play in the Bundesliga (Demirovic at Stuttgart, Tabakovic at Gladbach, Vasilj at St. Pauli, Katic and Dzeko at Schalke, Burnic at Karlsruhe). Coach Sergej Barbarez has lived in Hamburg since 1992, fleeing the Bosnian war. Germany appropriates Bosnia's victory as its own achievement — football as migrant soft power.

The contrast is striking: Gazzetta dello Sport speaks of "apocalypse" and the Italian minister demands overhaul, while Berlin tells a beautiful integration story. The same event — Bosnia beats Italy — produces two incompatible national narratives: death of calcio in Italy, integration success story in Germany.