Strange initiative. Italy national team players' request shocks fans

Before the match against Bosnia, players of the Italy national team approached the Italian Football Federation with a request for an individual bonus of €10,000 for each player should the team qualify for the World Cup.

However, according to La Repubblica, the federation's management rejected the proposal before the match even started, refusing to approve bonus payments under such terms. The Azzurri players' demands left fans perplexed.

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Interestingly, the discussion revolved around additional compensation for potential World Cup qualification, an achievement all the more significant given Italy's absence from the previous two tournaments — the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.