Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nickname(s) Zmajevi (The Dragons)
Zlatni ljiljani (The Golden Lilies)
Association Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (N/FSBiH)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Mehmed Baždarević
Captain Edin Džeko
Most caps Emir Spahić (93)
Top scorer Edin Džeko (50)
Home stadium Bilino Polje
FIFA code BIH
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 30 Steady (10 August 2017)
Highest 13 (August 2013)
Lowest 173 (September 1996)
Elo ranking
Current 30 Decrease 5 (27 July 2017)
Highest 21 (June 2013)
Lowest 87 (October 1999)
First international

Non-FIFA international
 Iran 1–3 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Tehran, Iran; 12 September 1993)[1][2][3]

FIFA international
 Albania 2–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Tirana, Albania; 30 November 1995)[4]
Biggest win
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7–0 Estonia 
(Zenica, BiH; 10 September 2008)
 Liechtenstein 1–8 Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(Vaduz, Liechtenstein; 7 September 2012)
Biggest defeat
 Argentina 5–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(Córdoba, Argentina; 14 May 1998)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2014)
Best result Group Stage, 2014

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Nogometna/Fudbalska reprezentacija Bosne i Hercegovine; Cyrillic: Ногометна/Фудбалска репрезентација Боснe и Херцеговинe); represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in association football and is governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Until 1992, Bosnian and Herzegovinian players were part of the Yugoslavia national football team. Paradoxically, it's the best dominantly muslim national team in the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina achieved their best result when they reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup as winners of their qualifying group.[5][6] They were eliminated after group stage narrow losses to Argentina and Nigeria and a win over Iran; finishing twentieth overall. The team has appeared in numerous other qualification play-offs, in 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs loss to Portugal, as well as qualifying play-offs for UEFA Euro 2012 and UEFA Euro 2016, losing to Portugal and Republic of Ireland respectively, preventing the team to reach their first UEFA European Championship.[7][8][9][10]

Bosnia and Herzegovina's home stadium is Bilino Polje in the city of Zenica. The team's highest FIFA World Ranking was 13th in August 2013.[11][12]

History

Bosnia-Herzegovina squad in March 2002 under manager Blaž Slišković.

Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen a steady rise in their fortunes on the international football stage in recent times. Historically, Bosnia, a war torn and divided nation, has managed multiple playoff appearances and has qualified to one FIFA World Cup. More often than not, the team produces solid results in qualifiers and challenges for a top spot.

From 1920 to 1992, the players lined out for Yugoslavia, but following the outbreak of the Bosnian war and subsequent independence, a new football nation arose from the ashes.

The early period saw Bosnia-Herzegovina have to wait until the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to compete for a place in a major competition. Bosnia finished fourth in a group that included Greece, Denmark, Croatia and Slovenia. This was then subsequently followed by further disappointment with lackluster campaigns in the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers, as well as the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[13][14]

This early period was followed by Bosnia coming very close to qualifying directly for their first ever major competition, UEFA Euro 2004, narrowly missing out by a single goal against Denmark.[15]

Bosnia failed to make the grade in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite being unbeaten at home, and the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, which saw their poor home form cost them. Bosnia-Herzegovina then experienced double heartbreak, bowing out twice in the playoffs to Portugal, first 2–0 on aggregate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup decider and then 6–2 on aggregate in the UEFA Euro 2012 decider, before finally breaking their curse by qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[16][17][18]

Bosnia-Herzegovina squad in March 2015 under manager Mehmed Baždarević.

Bosnia managed to finish a creditable third in a group which included Argentina at their first ever major competition, and tasted their first victory thanks to a 3–1 win over Iran.[19] Nigeria pipped Bosnia for second place in the group with a 1–0 win marred with controversy following an incorrectly disallowed goal scored by Edin Džeko in the first half.[20][21][22]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Argentina 330063+39
 Nigeria 31113304
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 31024403
 Iran 301214−31

Bosnia finished third in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers behind Belgium and Wales. After making an unfortunate start to the qualifiers with a surprise 2–1 home defeat against Cyprus and managing just two points through four games, manager Safet Sušić was dismissed and replaced by Mehmed Baždarević.[23][24][25]

After the slow start, the Bosnian performance improved dramatically, with five wins in their remaining six matches, including victories over Wales and Israel along with three clean sheets. However, they ultimately failed to qualify after a two legged playoff encounter with the Republic of Ireland.[26][27]

2018 FIFA World Cup – qualification

On 9 November 2015, the Bosnian FA extended the contract with Baždarević through the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.[28] Bosnia-Herzegovina was drawn to face Belgium, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus and Gibraltar during the qualifying stage.[29]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Belgium 6 5 1 0 24 2 +22 16 Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup — 1–1 4–0 10 Oct 8–1 31 Aug
2  Greece 6 3 3 0 10 3 +7 12 Possible second round[lower-alpha 1] 3 Sep — 1–1 2–0 31 Aug 10 Oct
3  Bosnia and Herzegovina 6 3 2 1 13 5 +8 11 7 Oct 0–0 — 2–0 5–0 5–0
4  Cyprus 6 2 1 3 5 9 −4 7 0–3 7 Oct 31 Aug — 0–0 3–1
5  Estonia 6 1 1 4 5 17 −12 4 0–2 0–2 10 Oct 3 Sep — 4–0
6  Gibraltar (Y) 6 0 0 6 3 24 −21 0 0–6 1–4 3 Sep 1–2 7 Oct —
Updated to match(es) played on 9 June 2017. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(Y) Cannot qualify directly, but can still qualify via play-offs.
Notes:
  1. ↑ The eight best runners-up across all groups will advance to the second round (play-offs). The ninth-ranked runners-up will be eliminated.

Matches

6 September 2016 (2016-09-06)
20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)
Bosnia and Herzegovina  5–0  Estonia
Spahić  7', 90+2'
Džeko  23' (pen.)
Medunjanin  71'
Ibišević  83'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

7 October 2016 (2016-10-07)
20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)
Belgium  4–0  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Spahić  26' (o.g.)
Hazard  29'
Alderweireld  60'
R. Lukaku  79'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

10 October 2016 (2016-10-10)
20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)
Bosnia and Herzegovina  2–0  Cyprus
Džeko  70', 81' Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

13 November 2016 (2016-11-13)
20:45
(21:45 UTC+2)
Greece  1–1  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tzavellas  90+5' Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)		 Pjanić  32'
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Attendance: 20,075
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

25 March 2017 (2017-03-25)
18:00
(18:00 UTC+1)
Bosnia and Herzegovina  5–0  Gibraltar
Ibišević  4', 43'
Vršajević  52'
Višća  56'
Bičakčić  90+4'		 Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

9 June 2017 (2017-06-09)
20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)
Bosnia and Herzegovina  0–0  Greece
Report (UEFA)
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

31 August 2017 (2017-08-31)
20:45
(21:45 UTC+3)
Cyprus  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina

3 September 2017 (2017-09-03)
20:45
(19:45 UTC+1)
Gibraltar  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina

7 October 2017 (2017-10-07)
18:00
(18:00 UTC+2)
Bosnia and Herzegovina  v  Belgium

10 October 2017 (2017-10-10)
20:45
(21:45 UTC+3)
Estonia  v  Bosnia and Herzegovina

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Greece on 9 June 2017.[30]
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2017 after the game against Greece.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Asmir Begović (vice-captain) (1987-06-20) 20 June 1987 57 0 England Bournemouth
12 1GK Ibrahim Šehić (1988-09-02) 2 September 1988 6 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
22 1GK Kenan Pirić (1994-07-07) 7 July 1994 0 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrinjski
6 2DF Ognjen Vranješ (1989-10-24) 24 October 1989 30 0 Greece AEK Athens
15 2DF Toni Šunjić (1988-12-15) 15 December 1988 27 0 Russia Dynamo Moscow
17 2DF Ervin Zukanović (1987-02-11) 11 February 1987 21 0 Italy Genoa
3 2DF Ermin Bičakčić (1990-01-24) 24 January 1990 19 3 Germany 1899 Hoffenheim
2 2DF Edin Cocalić (1987-12-05) 5 December 1987 8 0 Belgium Mechelen
4 2DF Dario Đumić (1992-01-30) 30 January 1992 2 0 Netherlands Utrecht
10 3MF Miralem Pjanić (1990-04-02) 2 April 1990 74 12 Italy Juventus
8 3MF Haris Medunjanin (1985-03-08) 8 March 1985 54 8 United States Philadelphia Union
16 3MF Senad Lulić (1986-01-18) 18 January 1986 54 3 Italy Lazio
19 3MF Edin Višća (1990-02-17) 17 February 1990 30 3 Turkey İstanbul Başakşehir
7 3MF Muhamed Bešić (1992-09-10) 10 September 1992 27 0 England Everton
13 3MF Miroslav Stevanović (1990-07-29) 29 July 1990 13 1 Switzerland Servette
20 3MF Sanjin Prcić (1993-11-20) 20 November 1993 6 0 France Rennes
5 3MF Gojko Cimirot (1992-12-19) 19 December 1992 5 0 Greece PAOK
23 3MF Mato Jajalo (1988-05-25) 25 May 1988 4 0 Italy Palermo
11 4FW Edin Džeko (captain) (1986-03-17) 17 March 1986 85 50 Italy Roma
9 4FW Vedad Ibišević (1984-08-06) 6 August 1984 79 28 Germany Hertha BSC
21 4FW Armin Hodžić (1994-11-17) 17 November 1994 4 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
18 4FW Kenan Kodro (1993-08-19) 19 August 1993 2 0 Germany Mainz 05
14 4FW Riad Bajić (1994-05-06) 6 May 1994 2 0 Italy Udinese

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last twelve months:

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Jasmin Burić (1987-02-18) 18 February 1987 2 0 Poland Lech Poznań v.  Cyprus, 10 October 2016
DF Avdija Vršajević (1986-03-06) 6 March 1986 17 2 Turkey Osmanlıspor v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 INJ
DF Daniel Pavlović (1988-04-22) 22 April 1988 2 0 Italy Sampdoria v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 INJ
DF Samir Memišević (1993-08-13) 13 August 1993 1 0 Netherlands Groningen v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 PRE
DF Sead Kolašinac (1993-06-20) 20 June 1993 18 0 England Arsenal v.  Gibraltar, 25 March 2017
DF Emir Spahić (1980-08-18) 18 August 1980 93 6 Unattached v.  Greece, 13 November 2016
DF Mateo Sušić (1990-11-18) 18 November 1990 4 0 Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol v.  Cyprus, 10 October 2016
DF Marin Aničić (1989-08-17) 17 August 1989 1 0 Kazakhstan Astana v.  Cyprus, 10 October 2016
MF Haris Duljević (1993-11-16) 16 November 1993 6 0 Germany Dynamo Dresden v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 PRE
MF Rade Krunić (1993-10-07) 7 October 1993 2 0 Italy Empoli v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 INJ
MF Danijel Milićević (1986-01-05) 5 January 1986 1 0 Belgium Gent v.  Greece, 9 June 2017 INJ
MF Mario Vrančić (1989-05-23) 23 May 1989 6 0 England Norwich City v.  Albania, 28 March 2017
MF Amer Gojak (1997-02-13) 13 February 1997 0 0 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb v.  Gibraltar, 25 March 2017
MF Izet Hajrović (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 22 3 Germany Werder Bremen v.  Greece, 13 November 2016
MF Tino-Sven Sušić (1992-02-13) 13 February 1992 9 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv v.  Greece, 13 November 2016
MF Srđan Grahovac (1992-09-19) 19 September 1992 3 0 Kazakhstan Astana v.  Estonia, 6 September 2016
FW Milan Đurić (1990-05-22) 22 May 1990 14 7 England Bristol City v.  Gibraltar, 25 March 2017 INJ

Previous squads

FIFA World Cup squads

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2016

2017

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

After Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence from Yugoslavia on 1 March 1992, the national football team was soon formed but could not enter qualifying for 1994 World Cup as the national association was not yet a member of FIFA. During qualifiers for 1998 World Cup, Bosnia's first home match against Croatia was played at Bologna.[31] The match was held at the neutral venue due to the renovation of the Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium.

The team finished in third place during 2006 World Cup qualifying, recording two draws with Spain along the way. During qualifiers for 2010 World Cup Bosnia reached its first ever playoffs for a major tournament, though eventually losing to Portugal 2–0 on aggregate.

The 2014 World Cup is the first time Bosnia has appeared at a major tournament as an independent nation, having qualified as winners of UEFA Group G.

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA Position
Part of  Yugoslavia
1930 to 1994 ————————
as Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
United States 1994 Could not enter———————
France 1998 Did not qualify 8 3 0 5 9 14 4/5
as Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
South KoreaJapan 2002 Did not qualify 8 2 2 4 12 12 4/5
Germany 2006 10 4 4 2 12 9 3/6
South Africa 2010 12 6 1 5 25 15 2/6 Lost Playoff
Brazil 2014 Group stage 20th 3 1 0 2 4 4 Squad 10 8 1 1 30 6 1/6
Russia 2018 In progress 6 3 2 1 13 5
Qatar 2022 To be determined
Total Group stage 1/6 3 1 0 2 4 4 — 53 25 10 18 96 61 —

European Championship

UEFA Euro record UEFA Euro Championship Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Position
Part of  Yugoslavia
1960 to 1992 ————————
as Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
England 1996 Did not enter———————
as  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belgium Netherlands 2000 Did not qualify 10 3 2 5 14 17 3/6
Portugal 2004 8 4 1 3 7 8 4/5
Austria Switzerland 2008 12 4 1 7 16 22 4/7
Poland Ukraine 2012 12 6 3 3 19 14 2/6 Lost Playoff
France 2016 12 5 3 4 18 15 3/6 Lost Playoff
European Union 2020 To be determined———————
Total 0/6 54 22 10 22 74 76 —

Euro 1996 – Could Not Enter as the national team was not yet a member of UEFA.

Minor tournaments

Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Malaysia 1997 Dunhill Cup Malaysia Runners-up 2 5 3 1 1 9 5
India 2001 Millennium Soccer Cup Runners-up 2 5 3 1 1 7 5
Malaysia 2001 Merdeka Tournament Runners-up 2 5 3 1 1 7 4
Iran 2001 LG Cup Runners-up 2 2 1 0 1 4 6
Japan 2016 Kirin Cup Champions 1 2 1 1 0 4 3
Total - 1 Title 19 11 4 4 31 23

Statistics

Most appearances

Emir Spahić is Bosnia's most capped player with 93 caps.
#PlayerPeriodCapsGoals
1 Emir Spahić 2003– 93 6
2 Edin Džeko 2007– 85 50
3 Zvjezdan Misimović 2004–2014 84 25
4 Vedad Ibišević 2007– 79 28
5 Miralem Pjanić 2008– 74 12
6 Asmir Begović 2009– 57 0
7 Senad Lulić 2008– 54 3
8 Haris Medunjanin 2009– 54 8
9 Elvir Bolić 1996–2006 51 22
10 Sergej Barbarez 1998–2006 48 17

Most goals

Edin Džeko is Bosnia's all-time top scorer with 50 goals.
#PlayerPeriodGoalsCapsAverage
1 Edin Džeko 2007– 50 85 0.59
2 Vedad Ibišević 2007– 28 79 0.35
3 Zvjezdan Misimović 2004–2014 25 84 0.30
4 Elvir Bolić 1996–2006 22 51 0.43
5 Sergej Barbarez 1998–2006 17 48 0.35
6 Elvir Baljić 1996–2005 14 38 0.37
7 Miralem Pjanić 2008– 12 74 0.16
8 Zlatan Muslimović 2006–2011 12 30 0.40
9 Haris Medunjanin 2009– 8 54 0.15
10 Milan Đurić 2015– 7 14 0.50

Tables correct as of match played on 9 June 2017.

Captains

Emir Spahić captained Bosnia at their first ever FIFA World Cup tournament. This is a list of Bosnia and Herzegovina captains for ten or more official and friendly matches.

Note: Some of the other players to have captained the team include: Mehmed Baždarević (2 caps) 1996, Meho Kodro (5) 1997 to 1998, Vlatko Glavaš (1) 1997, Suvad Katana (2) 1998, Elvir Bolić (6) 1999 to 2000, Bruno Akrapović (4) 1999 to 2003, Hasan Salihamidžić (1) 2004, Zlatan Bajramović (1) 2006, Džemal Berberović (1) 2007, Asmir Begović (5) 2014 to 2017, Haris Medunjanin (2) 2016.

NamePeriodGames as captainNotes
Muhamed Konjić1995–200220First official captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
Mirsad Hibić2000–200314
Sergej Barbarez2004–200620
Zvjezdan Misimović2007–201216
Emir Spahić2006–201455First official captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a major tournament (2014 FIFA World Cup)
Edin Džeko2014–21

Current technical staff

Mehmed Baždarević in 2015
PositionName
Head coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Mehmed Baždarević
Assistant coach France Stéphane Gilli
Team coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Perić
Team coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Janković
Goalkeeping coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Gušo
Doctor Bosnia and Herzegovina Reuf Karabeg
Managing Director Bosnia and Herzegovina Fuad Kečo
Managing Director Bosnia and Herzegovina Adem Đipa
Secretary Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmir Pilav

Managers

Name First game Last game Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD Win % Achievements
Bosnia and Herzegovina Muzurović, FuadFuad Muzurović 30 November 1995 5 November 1997 18 7 2 9 21 25 −4 38.88%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Mušović, DžemaludinDžemaludin Mušović 14 May 1998 27 January 1999 7 1 2 4 7 16 −9 14.28%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hadžibegić, FarukFaruk Hadžibegić 10 March 1999 9 October 1999 7 2 2 3 10 10 0 28.57%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kalajdžić, AvdoAvdo Kalajdžić (caretaker) 18 August 1999 18 August 1999 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Smajlović, MišoMišo Smajlović 24 January 2000 7 October 2001 14 5 4 5 20 17 +3 35.71%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Slišković, BlažBlaž Slišković 27 March 2002 11 October 2006 37 11 11 15 44 56 −12 29.73%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Muzurović, FuadFuad Muzurović 24 March 2007 21 November 2007 9 3 0 6 11 16 −5 33.33%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Kodro, MehoMeho Kodro 30 January 2008 26 March 2008 2 0 1 1 2 5 −3 0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Pirić, DenijalDenijal Pirić (caretaker) 1 June 2008 1 June 2008 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100.0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Blažević, MiroslavMiroslav Blažević 20 August 2008 18 November 2009 17 8 2 7 34 24 +10 47.05%
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sušić, SafetSafet Sušić 3 March 2010 16 November 2014 50 23 9 18 83 60 +23 46.0% 2014 FIFA World Cup – Group stage
Bosnia and Herzegovina Baždarević, MehmedMehmed Baždarević 28 March 2015 21 12 5 4 42 22 +20 57.14% 2016 Kirin Cup – Champions
Totals184733972275251+24

Table does not include results of minor tournaments (reserve players) managed by Husnija Arapović.
Due to 1 match suspension of Mehmed Baždarević for offensive behaviour and fair play, assistant coach Dragan Perić took charge of the team on 25 March 2017.[32][33]

FIFA ranking history

FIFA-ranking yearly averages for Bosnia and Herzegovina.[34]

1993199419951996199719981999200020012002
xxx152999675786987
2003200420052006200720082009201020112012
59796559516151442027
20132014201520162017
19292227

Home stadiums

Bilino Polje is the home football stadium of NK Čelik from the city of Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of two main stadiums of the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The stadium was built and opened in 1972.

Bilino Polje Stadium

It was used in Bosnia and Herzegovina's first match, a friendly played against Albania in 1995 with the final result being a 0–0 draw. The stadium is considered a "curse" for foreign national teams, because the Bosnian national team usually wins or rarely loses their home games at Bilino Polje stadium. In a period stretching from 1995 to October 2006, Bosnia went undefeated at home in around 15 games played in Zenica. The city of Zenica had to wait another five years (1995–2000) before the next match of the national team was played at the stadium. This match was also a friendly, this time against Macedonia, with the final result being a victory for the home side 1–0. The Bosnian national team never lost on this field until the Euro 2008 qualifier against Hungary. During 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bosnia and Herzegovina national team played all their First round home matches at this stadium, losing only once, to former European and World Champion; Spain.

On 10 August 2012, the Bosnian Association and the local government of City of Zenica financed the replacement of the old grass surface at the Bilino Polje Stadium after numerous complaints from visiting teams about its quality.[35][36][37][38][39][40]

The secondary home stadium of the national football side of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the City Stadium Koševo, also known as Olympic Stadium Koševo. It is 34,630 seater stadium owned by the city of Sarajevo. Since July 2004, when FK Sarajevo plays its games, stadium is also called Asim ferhatović - Hase after Asim Ferhatović, the FK Sarajevo player who retired in 1967. Koševo Stadium is located in the Koševo neighborhood of Sarajevo and it is used fK Sarajevo and city for variety of different events. The stadium was opened in 1947, and in 1984 it was reconstructed for the 1984 Winter Olympics, and is therefore called Olympic Stadium Koševo.

Its training ground for domestic matches is the N/FSBIH Training Center in Zenica, which was opened in 2013 in conjunction with UEFA.[41]

Team image

Nickname

A popular nickname of all Bosnian sport teams and/or sportsman is the Zmajevi or Dragons (dragons = Bosnian: zmajevi), popularized by football TV commentator Marijan Mijailović during Belgium vs. Bosnia (2-4) 2010 WC qualification game on 28 March 2009.

General agreement among Bosnia and Herzegovina sports fans is that nick has historical context, although different people interpret it differently: for example, Dragon in connection to famous Sigismund's Court of the "Order of the Dragon" was also order's decorative title, and was borne by many local Bosnian voivode and sometimes other feudal lords throughout of Bosnia and Herzegovina medieval times, and even continued into early modern history, mostly through Kotromanić's close marital ties to Sigismund's court;[42] meanwhile it appeared often in oral epic poetry as well; however, most commonly and more specifically it is considered as an allusion to the famous Bosnian general Husein Gradaščević, who fought for Bosnian independence, and who was known as the "Dragon of Bosnia".[43]

In foreign media, they are sometimes referred to as the Golden Lilies, which was original nickname given to all country's teams and sportsman by fans after independence in reference to official state insignia at the time (flag and coat of arms), which itself referred to the Fleur-de-lis historical state insignia, featured on the coat of arms of the ruling Bosnian medieval Kotromanić dynasty.[44]

Historical kits

The team kit is currently produced by German sports apparel company Adidas. Also sponsoring the team are BH Telecom and Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine, companies from Sarajevo.[45][46]

(1996–1999)
Home Away
Patrick
(2005–2010)
Home Away
Legea
(2010–2012)
Home Away
Legea
(2012–2013)
Home Away
Legea
(2013–2014)
Home Away
Legea
(2014–2015)
Home Away
Adidas
(2015–present)
Home Away
Adidas


The table below shows the history of kit manufacturers for the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Period Kit Provider
1996–1999 Belgium Patrick[47]
1999–2000 Germany Adidas[47]
2000–2005 Germany Reusch[47]
2005–2014 Italy Legea[47]
2014–present Germany Adidas[48]

Supporters

Bosnian fans supporting the national team.[49]

Large number of national team's supporters come from Northern and Western Europe, North America, and some as far away as Australia.[50] Most of these fans are members of BHFanaticos, Belaj Boys, BHLegion, Armija Zmajeva (Dragons Army) and Ljuti Krajišnici groups.[51][52][53]

In the game against Norway, at the Ullevål Stadium in Oslo on 24 March 2007, Bosnian fans caused an hour-long delay due to an unprecedented amount of flares that had been thrown onto the pitch in protest against corruption in the (now former) Football organization of Bosnia.[54] On 1 June 2008, former Bosnia and Herzegovina players Meho Kodro and Elvir Bolić organised a friendly humanitarian game in Sarajevo called "Kodro, Bola and Friends" between former Bosnian football legends, in order to gain support, to say its time for changes in the Bosnian Football Association.[55] The game was organised to commence at the same time as Bosnia and Herzegovina national side faced Azerbaijan in a friendly in Zenica. The attendance in Sarajevo was 15,000 while in Zenica only about 50.[56] The game in Sarajevo was organised by the Federal TV who broadcast the humanitarian game live. A significant number of Bosnian International players were involved in the game,[57] which ended 11–9 in favour of Team Kodro.[58]

Before every game, during the playing of the Bosnian national anthem, BH Fanaticos sing lyrics from the old national anthem Jedna si jedina as the current national anthem does not have lyrics in all international sports Bosnia is part of (mainly football, basketball and handball).[59][60]

Head-to-Head records against other countries

Tables correct as of match played on 9 June 2017.

The table lists opponents played, sorted by members of FIFA affiliated confederations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time record sorted by FIFA Confederations, 1995–present

OpponentGamesWinsDrawsLossesGoals ForGoals AgainstGoal DifferentialFirst gamesLast games
UEFA 154643555238197+4130.11.199509.06.2017
AFC 2510693437−322.02.199707.06.2016
CAF 84131211+105.11.199721.06.2014
CONMEBOL 7205614−814.05.199815.06.2014
CONCACAF 410358−309.02.201103.06.2014
OFC 000000=0xx
71 Countries198814275295267+2830.11.199509.06.2017

Memorable victories

Source: Results

Date Tournament Place Opponents Score Additional Notes
6 November 1996 Friendly Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Italy 2 – 1 Victory over top 10 ranked team at the time (5th)[61]
10 November 1996 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Ljubljana, Slovenia  Slovenia 2 – 1 Historic first ever victory in qualifiers
20 August 1997 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Denmark 3 – 0 Victory over top 10 ranked team at the time (3rd)[62]
2 April 2003 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark 2 – 0
24 March 2007 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Oslo, Norway  Norway 2 – 1
2 June 2007 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Turkey 3 – 2
10 September 2008 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Estonia 7 – 0 Largest ever victory (without conceding)
28 March 2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Genk, Belgium  Belgium 4 – 2
10 October 2009 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 2 – 0 Qualified to 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs
3 March 2010 Friendly Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Ghana 2 – 1 Victory over 2010 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up
and 2010 FIFA World Cup participant
7 September 2012 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Vaduz, Lichtenstein  Liechtenstein 8 – 1 Largest ever victory
22 March 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Greece 3 – 1 Victory over Pot 1 seed and 12th ranked team[63]
10 September 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Žilina, Slovakia  Slovakia 2 – 1
15 October 2013 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification Kaunas, Lithuania  Lithuania 1 – 0 Qualified to 2014 FIFA World Cup
30 May 2014 Friendly St. Louis, United States  Ivory Coast 2 – 1 Victory over 2014 FIFA World Cup participant
3 June 2014 Friendly Chicago, United States  Mexico 1 – 0 Victory over 2014 FIFA World Cup participant
25 June 2014 2014 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Salvador, Brazil  Iran 3 – 1 Historic first victory in FIFA World Cup
10 October 2015 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Wales 2 – 0 Victory over top 10 ranked team at the time (8th)[64]
13 October 2015 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Nicosia, Cyprus  Cyprus 3 – 2 Qualified to UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs
29 March 2016 Friendly Zürich, Switzerland   Switzerland 2 – 0 Away victory over UEFA Euro 2016 participant and 12th ranked team[65]
7 June 2016 Kirin Cup Soccer 2016 Osaka, Japan  Japan 2 – 1 Victory in the Final of 2016 Kirin Cup

Honours

Other Cups

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ radiofarda.com (28 May 2014). "تاریخ فوتبال بوسنی و هرزگوین از تهران آغاز شد". radiofarda.com. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
    2. ↑ wildstat.com (4 April 2015). "Friendly internationals, Bosnia-Herzegovina". wildstat.com. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
    3. ↑ wildstat.com (4 April 2015). "Friendly internationals, Iran". wildstat.com. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
    4. ↑ Jonathan Wilson (1 May 2014). "Despite its inescapable past, Bosnia-Herzegovina writes new chapter". sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
    5. ↑ Fifa.com (15 October 2013). "Bosnians make history". FIFA.com.
    6. ↑ uefa.com (15 October 2013). "Ibišević sparks Bosnia and Herzegovina joy". uefa.com.
    7. ↑ "Jubilant Bosnians book play-off place". UEFA. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
    8. ↑ UEFA.com (13 October 2011). "Draw for the UEFA EURO 2012 play-offs".
    9. ↑ bleacherreport.com (11 October 2012). "World Cup Qualifying: Is Luck Finally on the Side of Bosnia and Herzegovina?".
    10. ↑ Rusty Woodger (23 March 2013). "Can Bosnia break their hoodoo?". theroar.com.au.
    11. ↑ fifa.com (4 July 2013). "Bosnia-Herzegovina (14th, up 1)".
    12. ↑ fifa.com (13 June 2013). "Best-ever Bosnia scale new heights". fifa.com. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
    13. ↑ Fuad Krvavac (12 October 2012). "Prije 16 godina BiH je igrala sa Grčkom u Kalamati". klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 12 October 2012.
    14. ↑ Al Jazeera Balkans (15 June 2014). "Naša brazilska priča (Our Brazil Story)". Sabahudin Topalbećirević (in Bosnian). Retrieved 18 June 2014.
    15. ↑ Uefa.com (12 October 2003). "Denmark do just enough". UEFA. Retrieved 12 October 2003.
    16. ↑ uefa (8 June 2005). "Spain – Bosnia-Herzegovina Match Report WC Q 2006". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
    17. ↑ fifa.com (16 October 2012). "First-half flurry sees Bosnia-Herzegovina cruise". fifa.com. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
    18. ↑ "Bosnia-herzegovina qualifies for first world cup". Goal.com. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
    19. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Bosnia and Iran rue first round exits". theaustralian.com.au. 26 June 2014.
    20. ↑ Matthew Theunissen (9 November 2014). "Death threat ref's international return". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
    21. ↑ Chris Greenberg (21 June 2014). "Bosnia-Herzegovina Robbed Of Goal By Offside Call In Loss To Nigeria, Eliminated At World Cup". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
    22. ↑ Joe Bernstein (25 June 2014). "Nigeria 1–0 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Peter Odemwingie scores only goal as Edin Dzeko and Co crash out of World Cup". dailymail.co.uk.
    23. ↑ Fuad Krvavac (17 November 2014). "Sušić tenure ends with Bosnia and Herzegovina". uefa.com. Sarajevo. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
    24. ↑ Jack Davies (17 November 2014). "Susic sacked by Bosnia-Herzegovina". goal.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
    25. ↑ Maja Zuvela (17 November 2014). "Bosnia sack coach Susic after Israel fiasco". uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
    26. ↑ uefa.com (16 November 2015). "Walters double takes Ireland to UEFA EURO 2016". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
    27. ↑ eurosport.com (16 November 2015). "Walters strikes twice to send jubilant Ireland to Euro 2016". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
    28. ↑ oslobodjenje.ba (9 November 2015). "Baždarević selektor i u kvalifikacijama za SP u Rusiji" (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
    29. ↑ "Fixture List – Centralised friendlies" (PDF). UEFA.com.
    30. ↑ "Baždarević odabrao Zmajeve za okršaj s Grčkom, povratak Medunjanina i Bešića" (in Bosnian). 26 May 2017.
    31. ↑ "World Cup 1998 qualifications". Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
    32. ↑ https://bnm.ba/de/blog/mehmed-bazdarevic-von-der-fifa-suspendiert/
    33. ↑ http://www.avaz.ba/clanak/269302/prvi-put-u-historiji-zmajeve-ce-voditi-stranac-stephane-gilli-sef-protiv-gibraltara
    34. ↑ FIFA-ranking yearly averages Bosnia-Herzegovina
    35. ↑ goal.com (8 November 2011). "Portuguese FA director laments pitch condition of Bosnia & Herzegovina Euro 2012 play-off match".
    36. ↑ youtube.com (11 November 2011). "Cristiano Ronaldo angry at Bilino Polje surface qualifty in 2011" (in Bosnian).
    37. ↑ ekapija.ba (30 July 2012). "Renewal of Bilino Polje in its final stage".
    38. ↑ vimeo.com (7 August 2012). "Grass surface replacement Bilino Polje".
    39. ↑ sportsport.ba (7 August 2012). "Počela ugradnja travnate površine na Bilino polje" (in Bosnian).
    40. ↑ sportsport.ba (10 August 2012). "Postavljena trava na Bilinom Polju" (in Bosnian).
    41. ↑ "Michel Platini otvorio Trening centar NSBiH u Zenici vrijedan 10 miliona KM!". Klix.ba. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
    42. ↑ Ian Cowburn. "The Dragon Court and Sigismund of Luxemburg". Hermetic Virtues. issuu. 2 (1): 57–77. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
    43. ↑ "BH Dragons" (website). USA: bhdragons.com. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
    44. ↑ "Golden Lilies blossoming". FIFA.com. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
    45. ↑ nezavisne.com (17 November 2009). "Bh. telekom zlatni sponzor". nezavisne.com (in Bosnian). Retrieved 30 March 2012.
    46. ↑ bihsoccer.com (12 November 2006). "Reprezentacija Bosne i Hercegovine". bihsoccer.com (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
    47. 1 2 3 4 bhdragons.com (21 December 2013). "The History of the Bosnian National Jersey". bhdragons.com. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
    48. ↑ adidas.com (21 March 2014). "adidas to partner Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™". adidas.com. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
    49. ↑ BHFProduction (2 October 2010). "BHFanaticos–Gdje Ti Igraš Tu Smo Mi". YouTube. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
    50. ↑ Albin I. (22 March 2013). "Bosnian fans from Australia (Bosnia–Greece 3:1)". facebook.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
    51. ↑ Vic (28 March 2013). "Bosnia Fans Make the Most of Being Stuck on a Bridge". sportige.com. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
    52. ↑ Emin D (22 March 2013). "BHLegion fans go to Bilino". zenicablog.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
    53. ↑ Emin D (22 March 2013). "BHFanaticos fans go to Bilino". zenicablog.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
    54. ↑ Rosenborg Trondheim (24 March 2007). "Bosnian supporters–protest including pyro (Norway Bosnia)". YouTube. Retrieved 27 March 2006.
    55. ↑ Brza zmija (1 June 2008). "Fotogalerija: Kodro, Bola i prijatelji". SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 1 June 2008.
    56. ↑ Statler (1 June 2008). "BiH–Azerbejdzan". SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 1 June 2008.
    57. ↑ I. Babic (25 May 2008). "Svi na Kosevo–Spasimo bh fudbal". SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 25 May 2008.
    58. ↑ Statler (1 June 2008). "Live–Spektakl na Kosevu". SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 1 June 2008.
    59. ↑ BHFProduction (14 June 2008). "Skenderija pjeva, Jedna si jedina". YouTube. Retrieved 14 June 2006.
    60. ↑ Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 June 2010). "Proposal of the Text for the National Hymn of BiH Adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH". Retrieved 10 May 2010.
    61. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 23 October 1996". FIFA.com. 1996.
    62. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 20 August 1997". FIFA.com. 1997.
    63. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 14 March 2013". FIFA.com. 2013.
    64. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 1 October 2015". FIFA.com. 2015.
    65. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking 3 March 2016". FIFA.com. 2016.
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