Bosnia-Herzegovina Football History :
The Bosnia–Herzegovina national football team will be a surprise package for the upcoming 20th FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Prior to their independence in 1992, Bosnia–Herzegovina players used to play for the Yugoslavian football team.
After becoming an independent nation, their qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup is the major highlight of their professional football career. Controlled by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnian national soccer team’s home ground is the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica city.
The team has been displaying satisfactory progress ever since it became a member of the international football federation, FIFA. The Bosnia–Herzegovina football team rose to fame after beating the 1994 FIFA World Cup runner-up Italy on 6th November, 1996. This was their first international victory after gaining independence. The Yugoslav republic state was close to win other qualifiers like the UEFA Euro 1994 and UEFA Euro 2012 to mark their debut in these world class tournaments but were defeated in their last must-win matches. Till now, they haven’t qualified for any European Championship.
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Success Story :
The Bosnia-Herzegovina national football team reached their highest FIFA ranking of number 13 in August 2013. Their game has certainly improved with each match and this is evident from the fact that in the past years, the team was amongst the best three movers in the FIFA Global Ranking of the year. Another occasion to celebrate was when Bosnia–Herzgovina were a win away from entering what would have been their first FIFA appearance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup but again lost ground at the very last moment.
Interesting facts :
In the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bosnia’s first home match against Croatia was played at a neutral venue of Bologna, as there was tension between the two nations. The Bosnian war kept the national football team away from the qualifying matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup at United States, as the team was not yet a member of FIFA.
Bosnia squad |
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| Goalkeepers: | Asmir Begovic (Stoke City/ENG) Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka) Jasmin Fejzic (VFR Aalen/GER) |
Defenders: | Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen/GER) Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk/UKR) Sead Kolasinac (Schalke/GER) Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor/TUR) Ervin Zukanovic (Gent/BEL) Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER) Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros/HUN) |
| Midfielders: | Miralem Pjanic (Roma/ITA) Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray/TUR) Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg/GER) Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor/TUR) Senad Lulic (Lazio/ITA) Anel Hadzic (Sturm/AUT) Tino Susic (Hajduk/CRO) Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim/GER) Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhour Renhe/CHN) Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor/TUR) Avdija Vrsaljevic (Hajduk/CRO) |
Forwards: | Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart/GER) Edin Dzeko (Manchester City/ENG) Edin Visca (Istanbul BB/TUR) |
Bosnia’s performance in all FIFA World Cups :
| World Cup Year | World Cup Hosting Nation | FIFA Qualification | Quarter Final Birth | Semi Final Birth | Third Place Secured | Reached Final | Title Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | South Africa | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | Germany | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | South Korea | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1998 | France | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1994 | United States | Not able to enter | – | – | – | – | |
| 1990 | Italy | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1986 | Mexico | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1982 | Spain | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1978 | Argentina | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1974 | West Germany | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1970 | Mexico | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1966 | England | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1962 | Chile | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1958 | Sweden | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1950 | Brazil | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1938 | France | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1934 | Italy | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | Competed as a part of Yugoslavia | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 19 World Cups | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |