The football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the third round of Group J qualification for UEFA EURO 2024 yesterday evening at the “Luz” stadium in Lisbon was defeated by the favored Portugal, with a score of 3:0.
Although Faruk Hadžibegić’s team played very well and disciplined in the first 45 minutes, they went to the break between the two halves with the advantage of the so-called “European Brazilians”. Captain Edin Dzeko missed a cross from the Gojko Cimirot in the middle of the first half of the game, and the penalty came at the worst moment. The 44th minute of the match was played, when Bruno Fernandes brilliantly played past Bernardo Silva, who came out in front of the running Ibrahim Šehić in the penalty area. He routinely checked the powerless goalkeeper of “Dragons” for 1:0.
The match was decided in the 77th minute. Ruben Neves made a great cross, Bruno Fernandes made a great jump, headed into the undefended part of the goal for 2:0 and the celebration of around 60,000 home fans.
Reserve player Said Hamulić did not use the opportunity to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina back into the game, so Bruno Fernandes scored the second and Portugal’s third goal in referee’s time for, based on what was shown on the field, too much of a triumph for his national team.
Results of the third round: Luxembourg – Liechtenstein 2:0, Iceland – Slovakia 1:2, Portugal – Bosnia and Herzegovina 3:0.
Standings: Portugal 9, Slovakia 7, Luxembourg 4, Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, Iceland 3, Liechtenstein 0.
Fourth round pairings (Tuesday, June 20): Liechtenstein – Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Luxembourg, Iceland – Portugal.
Photo: Mondo.ba
