BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP SPECIAL
ARGENTINA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, IRAN, NIGERIA
F
HEAD MASTER: Bosnia-Herzegovina ' s Edin Dzeko( R) scores his team ' s sixth goal against Liechtenstein
BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA
Newcomers look to make debut statement
BRIEFLY: This is Bosnia- Herzegovina ' s debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup. The players, coaches and officials are keen to make a lasting impression on the world of football as they take on Argentina, Nigeria and Iran in the Group F. However, if for any undesirable reason, they fail to go past the group stages, it could still be some sort of achievement for the players whose careers will be enhanced with eye-catching performances.
MISSION: The Bosnian side is one brimming with exceptional talents, and reaching the Round Of 16 will not be a bad start in their World Cup bow. Argentina are the bookmakers ' clear favouites to emerge on the top of the table after the first round stage. Hence, Safet " Pape " Susic and his boys would want to battle Nigeria and Iran for the other group ticket to the knock-out stage.
PREPARATION: After their 2014 World Cup qualification campaign in which they topped their group ahead of Greece who also made it to Brazil 2014,
STAR MAN
EDIN DZEKO: The striker will be counted on to transform his impressive Barclays Premier League form with Manchester City for the national team. Dzeko is a powerful and strong striker and he has the talent to score from almost any situation and has great movement, as well as physical prowess. Dzeko ' s career low was losing to Portugal in the 2010 World Cup play-offs.. In November 2009, he became Bosnia ' s first UNICEF ambassador. More accolades could come his way this
Bosnia-Herzegovina effectively began their preparations for the Mundial with a friendly against former African champions, Egypt. The game ended 2-0 in favour of the North Africans.
H I G H P O I N T: B o s n i a- Herzegovina ' s Group F opponents will come up against a formidable side brimming with world class talents. Despite the a r d o u s t a s k o f proclaiming some of the stars as the outstanding ones in the team, it will be a tough ask to fathom who will actually be the most dangerous player from the Bosnian side. Such is the amount of quality in the team.
LOW POINT: The recent bustup between the coach and star s t r i k e r E d e n
KEY MAN
COACH SAFET " PAPE " SUSIC: Susic was a former Bosnia-Herzegovina national team star. He has etched his name in gold in Bosnia-Herzegovina as he guided the country to their historic first World Cup in
E. Spahic
H. Medunjanin
MIRALEM PJANIC: The Roma FC midfield dynamite will be a key component of the Bosnia side in Brazil. Pjanic is skillful and has been described as an " old-fashioned playmaker with huge technical qualities ". His goals ratio may not be eye-catching but his industry in the middle of the park could help unlock the stingiest of defences. The diminutive star is also dangerous at set-
Dzeko threatened to disrupt the team chemistry and create bad blood in the dressing room. This is a situation the Football Association and the coach himself must nip in the bud if they hope to have an ' appreciable ' World Cup debut in Brazil. Besides, the country ' s FA have been in FIFA and UEFA ' s trouble in the past over not following a laid down statute. Such in-fighting and political strife must be avoided for the
STRONGEST LINE-UP
A. Vršajevic
S. Salihovic
V. Ibiševic
A. Begovic
Z. Misimovic
M. Pjanic
E. Džeko
FORMATION: 4-4-2
E. Bicakcic
S. Lulic
KEY
MAN VEDAD IBISEVIC: The
Stuttgart striker has been a deadly finisher for club and country and will surely terrorise defences in Brazil if he receives the support of his teammates. Ibisevic scored eight goals during the World Cup qualifiers, just two behind the country ' s lead scorer, Dzeko, who had ten strikes to his credit. For his German club, Ibisevic has scored double
COMPLETE FOOTBALL 41