Bosnia will host the four-time world champions at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Tuesday night, following their dramatic penalty shootout win over Wales in the play-off semi-final last week.
The country has four World Cup trophies and made every tournament between 1958 to 2014. If it fails to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, however, it could miss the event for the third straight time.
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.
Bosnian fans have accused Italy of showing their team 'disrespect and arrogance' after celebrating their penalty shootout victory over Wales in the World Cup play-off semi-final.