Bosnia and Herzegovnia -The Only Debutant At This Year's Fifa World Cup

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Team Profile

Bosnia and Herzegovina (l-r): Miralem Pjanic, Jasmin Mujdza, Toni Sunjic, Emir Spahic, Tino-Sven Susic, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Vedad Ibisevic, Sejad Salihovic, Asmir Begovic, Haris Medunjanin and Edin Dzeko. Photograph: Dado Ruvic / Reuters

Manager: Safet Susic Best finish: First time to qualify.

History

The only debutants at this year’s finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified at their fifth attempt since independence having competed as part of Yugoslavia until 1990. Their first World Cup qualifying attempt was for the 1998 finals in France. The 2010 campaign ended with defeat to Portugal in the play-offs (as did their Euro 2012 hopes).

Whiteboard

Coach Safet Susic acknowledges that his preference for a 4-4-2 formation is risky, and he may yet opt for just one up front, not least when they take on Argentina, but his philosophy is clear enough: “We know that we expose ourselves too much and that there is a huge risk in the way we play – but that is the price we are willing to pay. In the end, we play to score more goals than the opposition, and it has paid off so far.”

All Star - Miralem Pjanic

Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic are the front men, sharing 18 goals between them in the qualifying campaign, but Miralem Pjanic is the playmaker and, after an impressive season with AS Roma in Serie A, the 24-year-old is another attracting the interest of Barcelona and Paris St Germain. His partnership with veteran Zvjezdan Misimovic in midfield, the pair supplying the bulk of the ammunition for the front two, will be key to their hopes.

County Colours – Leitrim

Nobody knows much about either of them at the top level, really.

Prospects

Only three European nations scored more than their 30 in qualifying, though the figures are massaged somewhat by 12 against Liechtenstein. Still, Greece, with whom they finished level on points, only managed 12 and Bosnia went through automatically. With Argentina, Nigeria and Iran alongside them in Group F, their firepower could well see them progress to the second round.