Four players made their debut under Milosevic, one can do so in the match with Rebrov’s team
21 March Ukrainian national team will play against the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semi-finals Euro 2024 playoff match. The match in Zenica will be the third duel between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine. The previous two took place as part of the group qualifications for the 2022 World Cup. In the first, the teams settled amicably, in the second, which took place in November 2021, the blue-and-yellows won. On the eve of the next match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine, we analyzed how the composition of the Balkan team has changed.
Fourth coach
In the last match with Ukraine, the Bosnia and Herzegovina team was led by Bulgarian Ivaylo Petev. Under his leadership, the Balkans also played the group round of the Nations League in Division B. In the quartet with Finland, Montenegro and Romania, the Bosnians finished first, and also received the right to play in the playoffs of the European Championship qualifications.
Bosnia and Herzegovina began the selection process for Euro 2024 with Faruk Hadžibegić. Under his leadership, the Balkans played three qualifying matches – a victory over Iceland and three consecutive defeats from Slovakia, Portugal and Luxembourg. Moreover, in these lost matches, Bosnia did not score a single goal, conceding seven.
Hadzhibegic was dismissed and replaced by Meho Kodro. With him, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Liechtenstein and lost to Iceland.
Kodro was replaced by the famous Serbian forward Savo Milosevic. The results did not get better: a victory (over the same Liechtenstein) and three defeats – from Slovakia, Portugal and Luxembourg.
Return of the main stars
We are talking about Edin Dzeko, who is currently playing in Fenerbahce, Sead Kolasinac, who moved from Marseille to Atalanta last year, and Miralem Pjanic, who plays in the UAE. Three players were not even included in the Bosnians’ squad for the last match with Ukraine. Three – officially due to injuries.
Dzeko is having an incredible season at Fenerbahce, scoring 22 goals and providing nine assists in 37 appearances. Pjanic has seven assists in 25 matches for Sharjah. Kolasinac has a goal and an assist in 33 matches for Atalanta.
An unshakable goalkeeper team and a new middle line
Compared to the November 2021 match, 10 people remained in the Bosnia and Herzegovina team’s squad. Among them are three goalkeepers. This is Nikola Vasil, who played the entire match with the blue-yellows, and Ibrahim Sehich and Kenan Piric who remained in reserve.
Defenders Anel Ahmedhodzic and Dannis Hadzikadunic started and played the entire match. Eldar Tsivich remained in reserve. Midfielders Rade Krunjic and Gojko Cimirot were substitutes in the match against Ukraine. Forward Ermedin Demirovich spent 80 minutes on the field in the match with the blue-yellows, and his colleague in the role Smail Prevljak appeared in the 71st minute.
One potential debutant
As mentioned above, Milosevic called up 17 players who did not take part in the teams’ last full-time match for the match with Ukraine on March 21. Moreover, the changes, as we noted above, affected all lines except the goalkeeper.
Of these players, only one does not have experience playing for the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina – 22-year-old Cologne midfielder Denis Husseinbasic, who relatively recently played for the German U-21 youth team.
And since we have already started with the habeks, then from the midfielders who were not included in the squad for the match with Ukraine, in addition to Pjanic and Huseinbasic, Ivan Basic (Orenburg, Russia), Benjamin Tahirovich (Ajax, the Netherlands), Haris Hayrandinovich (Kasimpasha, Turkey) were also called up ) and Amar Rakhmanovich (“wings of the Soviets”, Russia).
As for the defenders, Amar Dedic (Salzburg, Austria), Jusuf Gazibegovic (Storm, Austria), Adrian Barisic (Basel, Switzerland), Renato Gojkovic (Orenburg, Russia) and Nihad Mujakic (Ankaragucu, Turkey) also got the chance to play against Ukraine for the first time ).
If we talk about forwards, besides Dzeko, among the forwards called up and who did not play in the last match with Ukraine are Haris Tabakovich (Hertha, Germany, Nemanja Bilbija (Zrinski, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Said Hamulich (Lokomotiv, Russia) and Dal Varesanovich (Rizespor , Turkey).
Note that four of these players – Gojkovic, Mujakic, Basic and Tabakovic – made their debut in the Bosnian national team under Milosevic. Only one – Husseinbasic – will be able to do this in the match with Ukraine.
Source: Sportarena
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
