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Bosnia and Herzegovina at the FIFA World Cup

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Bosnia and Herzegovina appeared for the first time in a FIFA World Cup at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,[1][2] and remains the only time the team participated at a major international tournament to date.

Although Serbia is accepted by FIFA as the official successor of Yugoslavia, Bosnian players have played a role in World Cup history before their independence in 1992.

Yugoslavia qualified for the World Cup eight times between 1930 and 1990. While in the early editions Yugoslavia was mainly represented by Serbs, the squads grew more inclusive over time.

A notable early appearance of a Bosnian player at a FIFA World Cup was in 1962, when striker Arman Spahić broke an opponent's leg in a brutal foul. Although he was not carded by the referee, he was sent home by his own federation and was never called up for an international match again.

More positively, several Bosnian players were part of the 1974 first team line-up that advanced from the group stage unbeaten and ahead of Brazil. Striker Dušan Bajević scored three goals in one of the highest World Cup victories of all time: Yugoslavia's 9–0 against Zaire. Defender Josip Katalinski also scored during that game. Other Bosnians from that years team include goalkeeper Enver Marić and defender Enver Hadžiabdić.

Playmaker Safet Sušić, often considered to be the best Bosnian player of all time, represented Yugoslavia at the World Cup both in 1982 and 1990. The team that reached the quarter-finals in 1990 was captained by Zlatko Vujović, another player of Bosnian heritage.

FIFA World Cup record

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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.[3] 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 was the first time Bosnia had 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
Uruguay 1930 to Italy 1990 Part of  Yugoslavia Part of  Yugoslavia
as Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
United States 1994 Could not enter Could not enter
France 1998 Did not qualify 8 3 0 5 9 14 4/5
as Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina as Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
South Korea Japan 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 Did not qualify 10 5 2 3 24 13 3/6
Qatar 2022 8 1 4 3 9 12 4/5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total Group stage 1/11 3 1 0 2 4 4 — 66 29 14 23 121 81 —

List of matches

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World Cup Round Opponent Score Result Venue Scorers
2014 Group F  Argentina 1–2 L Rio de Janeiro Ibišević
 Nigeria 0–1 L Cuiabá
 Iran 3–1 W Salvador Džeko, Pjanić, Vršajević

Record players

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Six players were fielded in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina's matches at the 2014 World Cup, making them record players for their country.

Rank Player Matches
1 Asmir Begović 3
Muhamed Bešić 3
Edin Džeko 3
Vedad Ibišević 3
Miralem Pjanić 3
Emir Spahić 3

Top goalscorers

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Four players scored one goal each for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, an own goal was scored by left-back Sead Kolašinac in their match against Argentina, which holds the record for fastest own goal at a FIFA World Cup at two minutes and six seconds.

Rank Player Goals
1 Edin Džeko 1
Vedad Ibišević 1
Miralem Pjanić 1
Avdija Vršajević 1

See also

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Squads

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References

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  1. ^ Fifa.com (15 October 2013). "Bosnians make history by winning the 2013 world cup". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
  2. ^ uefa.com (15 October 2013). "Ibišević sparks Bosnia and Herzegovina joy". uefa.com.
  3. ^ "World Cup 1998 qualifications". Rec. Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
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