Two sides who failed to pick up a point or even score a goal in June lock horns in Friday's Euro 2024 qualifying Group J clash, as Bosnia-Herzegovina welcome Liechtenstein to Stadion Bilino polje.

The hosts were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Luxembourg on matchday four, while their 200th-ranked visitors battled hard against Slovakia but ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat.

Match preview

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A straightforward 3-0 win over Iceland on the opening matchday was not a sign of things to come for Bosnia-Herzegovina, who have since suffered three successive defeats in Group J without making the net ripple once.

Either side of a three-goal beating at the hands of Portugal - which few could knock the Dragons for - Bosnia-Herzegovina were subjected to a pair of 2-0 defeats at the hands of Slovakia and most recently Luxembourg, succumbing to goals from Yvandro Borges Sanches and Danel Sinani versus the latter.

The two-goal loss to Luxembourg marked Faruk Hadzibegic's final game in the Bosnia hotseat, and Meho Kodro - an ex-Barcelona and Real Sociedad marksman - has now returned for a second stint in the dugout following a short-lived reign in 2008.

The 56-year-old takes the reins with Bosnia languishing in fourth place in Group J - nine points off section leaders Portugal and another seven worse off than current runners-up Slovakia - but the Dragons do have a Nations League-shaped safety net should they fail to produce a miraculous turnaround.

Yet to qualify for the finals of a European Championships as an independent nation, Bosnia earned promotion to League A for the 2024-25 Nations League and will therefore earn a spot in the playoffs at the very worst, but a slice of redemption will be expected against their beleaguered visitors.

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Bottom but one in the UEFA section of FIFA's world rankings thanks to the presence of San Marino, Liechtenstein also experienced their regular dose of international misfortune over the summer months and have taken up a familiar position at the bottom of the standings.

After conceding 11 goals in their opening two clashes with Portugal and Iceland - shipping seven to the latter - Liechtenstein managed to keep the scoreline more respectable in June's battles with Luxembourg and Slovakia, losing 2-0 to the former before a dogged defensive display against the Falcons.

Konrad Funfstuck's players held out for 45 minutes against Slovakia before a Denis Vavro header proved to be their undoing, leaving them without a point or goal in Group J and extending their run of defeats to a miserable 17 since holding Andorra in a 2021 World Cup qualifier.

It will come as little shock to learn that only Gibraltar and San Marino have also failed to make the net bulge across the UEFA groups so far, and the Blue-Reds still have just the five wins to boast about from Euro qualifying matches in their history, and none since sinking Moldova in November 2014.

Liechtenstein did come away with a respectable 0-0 draw from their inaugural meeting with Bosnia in a 1999 friendly, but they have since been beaten on seven successive occasions by the Dragons, including a pair of 3-0 and 5-0 losses during Euro 2020 qualifying.

Team News

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Bosnia boss Kodro has kept faith with some esteemed veterans in his first squad selection, as 64-goal striker Edin Dzeko prepares to make his 130th appearance in the national team jersey, having already netted five times in seven games for Fenerbahce this season.

Miralem Pjanic - who now plays his club football with Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates - also remains a prominent part of the Dragons' setup, while 20-year-old Juventus Next Gen defender Tarik Muharemovic is the only uncapped player in the ranks.

Muharemovic has taken advantage of Anel Ahmedhodzic's absence, as the Sheffield United man misses out through injury, while other experienced names in Eldar Civic, Gojko Cimirot, Amer Gojak and Muhamed Besic are not involved as well.

Meanwhile, Liechtenstein have called up a crop of players based purely in their home nation, Switzerland and Austria, with the exception being four-goal striker Dennis Salanovic, who is currently searching for a new club as a free agent.

Salanovic may be required to shoulder the attacking burden given the absence of 94-cap skipper Nicolas Hasler, while Noah Frick - son of all-time top goalscorer Mario Frick - is nowhere to be seen either.

Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Kolasinac, Hadzikadunic, Milicevic; Dedic, Krunic, Pjanic, Prcic, Gazibegovic; Dzeko, Prevljak

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:
Buchel; Marxer, Traber, Beck; S. Wolfinger, Sele, Luchinger, F. Wolfinger, Goppel; Saglam, Salanovic

We say: Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 Liechtenstein

Bosnia's golden touch may have eluded them during June's pair of defeats, but Kodro's men ought to get back on track without breaking too much of a sweat this week.

With Dzeko enjoying a hot streak of form domestically and the potential for a new manager bounce for the hosts, Liechtenstein will travel home surely ruing yet another chastening loss.


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Written by
Ben Knapton

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