Nations League Preview: Germany vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
- FIy999 2024/11/16 02:00
- 0 0
Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday.
preview
Fuelled by the agony of a quarter-final exit at their home European Championships this summer, Germany will soon have the chance to right some last-eight wrongs, as Nagelsmann's side wrapped up a Nations League quarter-final berth with two games to spare.
Dropping just two points from their opening four fixtures in Group 3, Die Mannschaft had Deniz Undav to thank for a 2-1 beating of upcoming opponents Bosnia last month, before another unsung national team hero sank the Netherlands in their most recent battle.
With just over an hour played against the Dutch, debutant Jamie Leweling marked his maiden appearance with the winning goal in a 1-0 triumph, putting Germany five points clear of Hungary and the Netherlands and on the cusp of confirming their status as group winners.
Victory on Saturday will guarantee a first-placed finish for the Germans, and the only scenario where a draw would not be enough is if Hungary defeat the Netherlands at the same time and also thump Nagelsmann's men by more than five goals on the final matchday.
Such a scenario is unfathomable for the 2014 World Cup winners, but they would do well to eliminate that miniscule shred of doubt with a triumph at the weekend, which would coincidentally also extinguish Bosnia-Herzegovina's faint hopes of sneaking into the top two.
Yo-yoing from League B to League A ever since the inaugural Nations League in 2018-19, Bosnia-Herzegovina's pattern of promotion followed by immediate relegation looks set to continue barring a miraculous set of circumstances this month.
The Golden Lilies have only managed to accrue one point from 12 on offer in League A Group 3 thus far, holding Hungary to a goalless draw on September 10, but they were beaten 2-0 by the same opponents last time out courtesy of a Dominik Szoboszlai double.
Owing to that comprehensive defeat, the aforementioned loss to Germany and 5-2 humiliation at the hands of the Netherlands, Bosnia need to win and hope that the other game between Hungary and the Dutch finishes level if they are to have any hope of making the knockout rounds.
A more likely outcome is Sergej Barbarez's side being condemned to the defeat that would send them straight back down to League B, as their abysmal winless run in all competitions now stands at 10 matches since beating Liechtenstein in a 2023 Euros qualifier.
Nine of those 10 contests have ended in defeat for Bosnia, whose only previous trip to Germany saw them go down 3-1 to Die Mannschaft in a 2010 friendly, where current captain Edin Dzeko opened the scoring before Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger inspired a comeback.
Germany possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Gross; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Havertz
Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Mujakic, Bicakcic, Barisic; Gazibegovic, Tahirovic, Hajradinovic, Huseinbasic, Dedic; Dzeko, Demirovic
This article mentions
Related News
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann will start in his hometown
15 hours ago
Julian Nagelsmann confirms Oliver Baumann will start for Germany
21 hours ago
15 BVB professionals nominated for international matches
5 days ago
Dortmund suffer yet another loss on the road
5 days ago
Germany squad: Ortega Moreno nominated for the first time, Brandt and Nmecha return
6 days ago
Ortega receives Germany call up
7 days ago
'Florian Wirtz better than Jamal Musiala and a big transfer is inevitable' - Robert Andrich
16 days ago
Nicolò Tresoldi has received interest from many top teams
30 days ago
'A once great nation crumbles!' - England's decision to hire Thomas Tuchel slammed
30 days ago
Jamie Leweling:The hero for Germany to win over Netherlands
30 days ago
0comments
No comments available