Bosnia-Iceland is a match from the first day of Euro 2024 qualifying group J and is played on Thursday at 20:45: TV, line-ups, predictions
One of Bosnia, Iceland, Slovakia, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein will earn a pass to the final stage of Euro 2024. Excluding Portugal, the big favourite for first place, there will be a tussle in a group in which there seems to be no one, at least in theory, who can hold a candle to the Lusitanians.
Great opportunity, then, for Dzeko and his team-mates, who after a few unsuccessful campaigns have all the makings of their first European Championship since the historic qualification for Brazil 2014 eight years ago. There is a new face on the bench: it is Faruk Hadzibegic, who took over in December from Bulgarian Petev, who was exonerated despite promotion to the Nations League. For Bosnia it is a return, as they had been relegated to League B in the previous edition. Despite only scoring eight goals in six matches and not winning any away games, the Balkans scored more points (11) than Finland, Montenegro and Romania, three competitive selections with which they are on a level technical and qualitative playing field. In the opener against Iceland, Hadzibegic will have to do without the disqualified Pjanic and the injured Kolasinac: in attack, he will trust in the eternal Dzeko, who hopes to increase his goals tally (64) with the national team. Roma youngster Tahirovic is also in the squad.
Iceland on the wane
Far from the glories of 2016, when they qualified and made their way into the French European Championship, Iceland are struggling to start a new cycle.
Vidarsson
But the results, so far, are unsatisfactory. In the last Nations League they only recorded four draws in as many matches and barely managed to win two matches out of the last 18 in all competitions. In 2023 Arnar Vidarsson’s men took part in a couple of friendlies, drawing with Estonia and losing to Sweden. The head coach has called up the experienced Gudmundsson and Finnbogason, but the list also includes the Lecce-born Helgason and Gudjohnsen.
The prediction
Bosnia should start off on the right foot, regulating a selection that no longer shines as brightly as Iceland did a few years ago. A victory for the hosts is likely
Bosnia v Iceland
Probability line-up
- BOSNIA (5-3-2): Vaslij; Dedic, Kovacevic, Hadzikadunic, Ahmedhodzic, Kolasinac; Krunic, Cimirot, Gojak; Dzeko, Demirovic.
- ISLAND (4-1-4-1): Runarsson; Sampsted, Gunnarsson, Palsson, Olafsson; Magnusson; Sigurdsson, Gudmundsson, Traustason, Haraldsson; Finnbogason.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
