Printed On 24 Jun 2026
Bosnia and Herzegovina are on the verge of reaching the knockout phases of the World Cup for the primary time after beating Qatar 3-1 of their remaining Group B match.
Bosnia transfer on to 4 factors and are in a robust place to be probably the greatest eight third-placed groups to progress to the final 32.
Beneficial Tales
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Qatar, in the meantime, exit on the group stage, simply as they did 4 years in the past once they hosted the World Cup.
Objectives from Bosnia’s youngest-ever World Cup participant, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an personal aim by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada seemed to have put the European facet within the field seat.
Nevertheless, Qatar made a recreation of it when 35-year-old Hassan Alhaydos, their most capped participant, pulled one again late within the first half.
Ermin Mahmic then put the sport past the Qataris when he scored for the second successive match within the eightieth minute.
Bosnia flew out of the blocks as quickly because the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the primary 4 minutes.
First, Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic’s fierce drive, after which he tipped away Ivan Sunjic’s shot.
Bosnia’s dominance lastly paid off, nevertheless it was not the 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the impasse, however the sublimely proficient teenage left-wing.
Abunada was unable to do something about Alajbegovic’s screamer from outdoors the realm, after he had crushed two gamers.
The teen was mobbed by his teammates, and as soon as that they had trotted again to the midway line, he stood and milked the second, placing a finger to his lips.
Dzeko, successful his one hundred and fiftieth cap, got here increasingly more into the sport, and never wishing to have his thunder stolen by the brand new child on the block, he performed an integral function of their second 5 minutes later.
His shot took a depraved deflection off Sultan Albrake after which Abunada on its method into the web.
Dzeko was nicely into his stride now, and he broke clear a couple of minutes later, his shot beating Abunada however rebounding off the put up.
Bosnia’s earlier sprightliness dipped within the warmth, and it was the doyen of Qatari soccer, Alhaydos, who repaid coach Julen Lopetegui’s religion by slotting dwelling within the forty second minute.
The Bosnian defence did not study from that, and in time added on, that they had the far put up to thank for preserving their noses in entrance as Pedro Miguel’s shot got here again off it.
Alhaydos’s World Cup, and maybe his distinguished worldwide profession, resulted in tears as he trudged disconsolately off the pitch, injured within the fifty fifth minute.
Possibilities had been few and much between till Esmir Bajraktarevic stole in from the fitting wing and got here near emulating Alajbegovic’s effort, however Abunada turned it away for a nook.
Bosnian frustration gave approach to ecstasy when Mahmic prodded the ball dwelling – the scorer ripping his shirt off in celebration, and the 21-year-old paid little discover to being booked for it.
