Dubai: Debutants Bosnia and Herzegovina will be hoping to at least reach the knockout stages despite being grouped along with former champions Argentina, Nigeria and Iran in Group F.
The Balkan state have the talent and ammunition necessary to make it to that level, shrugging off the notion they could be headed to Brazil as “tourists” given their first-time appearance.
While getting a result against the South Americans may be a tough task at the Maracana stadium in their opener, coach Safet Susic’s men should have enough to handle Iran and Nigeria.
Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko and Stuttgart’s Vedad Ibisevic were one of Europe’s most lethal striking combinations during the qualifiers, with 18 goals between them.
Then there is AS Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, Lazio winger Senad Lulic and Hoffenheim’s Sejad Salihovic to ensure a lofty finish for the debutants.
However, a couple of areas of concern could be a leaky defence and a lack of bench strength.
That is where the coach steps in. With 21 goals in 54 internationals, the 59-year-old Susic has enough experience on the big stage. Couple this with his sense of humour and affection for the players, and you have a real father-figure in a team for whom the players will be willing to give everything.
Normally softly spoken, Susic demonstrated his no-nonsense approach when he blasted Dzeko and captain and Emir Spahic following an embarrassing 2-0 loss to Egypt in a friendly in March.
Like Dzeko, Susic received a hero’s welcome in Sarajevo when Bosnia secured their place in a first major competition as an independent nation. But now he will have to show off all his cunning to accommodate the growing appetite of a young nation craving success and recognition.
Known as a player who produced his best football under pressure, Susic has managed to instill similar traits in his entertaining unit of players. So far, the coach has shown remarkable resolve and composure under pressure and it is these traits that give Bosnia the potential to be one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group F
Fifa Ranking: 25
Top man
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Edin Dzeko |
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Coach
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Safet Susic |
Best 11 (4-4-2)
Begovic; Vrsajevic, Bicakcic, Spahic, Mujdza; Lulic, Misimovic, Salihovic, Pjanic; Ibisevic, Dzeko
Squad
Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Jasmin Fejzic (Aalen), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka)
Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke 04), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Toni Sunjic (Zarya Lugansk), Avdija Vrsajevic (Hajduk Split), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg)
Midfielders: Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhou Renhe), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Tino Sven Susic (Hajduk Split), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Anel Hadzic (Sturm Graz)
Forwards: Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB)
Group opponents
Qualifying
Topped Uefa Group G ahead of Greece on goal difference, earning 25 points from 10 games, scoring 30 times along the way.
World Cup history
First tournament: 2014 (Brazil)
Appearances (before 2014): 0
Best finish: N/A
Pros
- Led by coach Safet Susic — a legendary former player — Bosnia will be backed by a proud nation as they make their World Cup debut.
- The team has genuine attacking elan, backed by a fantastic goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic and an inspirational skipper in defender Emir Spahic.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina scored an impressive 30 goals in 10 qualifying matches, with Edin Dzeko netting 10 of them.
Cons
- A lack of experience on the big stage may cost Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- They’ve landed in a tough group that includes former champions Argentina and African champions Nigeria.
- May not have the best pre-tournament preparation with friendly matches against Ivory Coast, Mexico and the Santos Under-21 team.
