Tonight, from 8:45 p.m. at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica, the BiH football team will play a match of the 8th round of qualification for the European Championship against Portugal, and a possible victory would leave a glimmer of hope that we can qualify for the European Championship.
Bosnia and Herzegovina registered their first away victory after two years of waiting against Liechtenstein with a score of 2:0 and partially returned to the game for placement in the European Championship through the qualifiers.
Thus, if only for a shade, the Dragons’ chances to directly qualify for the European Championship through the group increased, and for that there was only one more place left, since Portugal secured a review of Europe’s best selections.
Much will be clearer after tonight. Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes already qualified Portugal and we need a win in order to keep any chances for a direct placement at the Euros.
At the same time, Slovakia will visit Luxembourg, and the best result for us is a draw, but a victory for the hosts over the Slovaks is also more acceptable.
In case of positive results in the matches on Monday, we will be in a situation where we decide our own fate, just as coach Milošević pointed out after returning from Liechtenstein.
The mathematical chances of qualifying for the European Championship still exist and there is hope that we can make a miracle by the end of the qualifications.
“Everyone has their own plans, including us. We are not in a situation to threaten, but we have hope. We will certainly give our best and we know it will be very difficult, but the essence is the right relationship from the first minute to the last minute which we need in every game “If we do everything right, then the details will decide and I’m sure we won’t be afraid,” said coach Savo Milošević before the game.
When asked if he was satisfied with one point, the selector said:
“I wouldn’t be satisfied. We need a win if we want to qualify for the Euros. We shouldn’t run away from responsibility as long as there are mathematical chances. We can talk about a good or bad game, even if we lose, and it’s up to us to give everything from himself,” Milošević said.
On the other hand, the Portuguese won against Slovakia (3:2) in the last round to secure their place in the Euro, but they come to Zenica with the desire to register three new points.
Coach Roberto Martinez announced that Portugal will play with the strongest team.
“We want to win and finish the group triumphantly, but it won’t be easy because we had a difficult game against Slovakia. We always respect the opponent and be sure that we will perform with the strongest team, because we want to win,” Martinez said, adding:
“I started following your football at the World Cup in Brazil, I fell in love with one player, Muhamed Bešić, and brought him to my club. I saw great professionalism, and you also have a lot of quality. BiH has many good players, like which are Pjanic, Dzeko or Kolasinac. We have to do everything we can to win,” Martinez said.
Tonight’s game will be refereed by four people from Turkey: The main referee is Halil Umut Meler, and his assistants will be compatriots Mustafa Eyisoy and Kerem Ersoy, while the fourth referee is Arda Karsesle. The VAR referee is Benoît Millot from France.
Tonight, Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Portugal for the fifth time. The previous games were always in the playoffs and we don’t remember them well.
The first were played in November 2009 in the play-off for the World Cup, when the Portuguese won both times with 1:0 (goals by Raul Meireles at Bilino polje and Bruno Alves at Luž), while 0:0 and 6:2 for Portugal were in November 2011 in the play-off for the European Championship with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, two from Helder Postiga and one each from Nani and Miguel Velos. Zvjezdan Misimović and Emir Spahić scored for our team, Klix.ba reports.