Bosnians keeping the dream alive
Wednesday 7 September 2005
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Blaz Sliskovic (in white) training with Bosnia-Herzegovina (©Getty Images)
While Spain's battle with leaders Serbia and Montenegro is undoubtedly the biggest midweek game in Group 7, in one corner of the former Yugoslavia all eyes will be on Lithuania, as Bosnia-Herzegovina look to keep alive their hopes of a massive FIFA World Cup upset.
Vital victory
Blaz Sliskovic's third-placed side still have a chance of taking a play-off spot after a goal from Sergej Barbarez earned a 1-0 win against Belgium at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica on Saturday. Another victory in Vilnius on Wednesday would bring that unlikely possibility into even sharper focus.
Massive fixtures
Lithuania are one point behind Bosnia-Herzegovina with nine points, while Spain are second with 13, and a winning team on Wednesday would be handed a massive boost in the event of a draw or Serbo-Montenegrin victory in one of the night's two other Group 7 matches in Madrid.
Possible scenario
A Bosnia-Herzegovnian success and Spanish defeat would leave the Balkan side level on points with Spain, whose final two qualifiers are away to Belgium and San Marino. If Sliskovic's men then win their remaining games, against San Marino and Serbia and Montenegro, their luck could be in.
Spanish draws
Having drawn both their meetings 1-1, Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina have an identical head-to-head record. However, with Luis Aragonés's side having a superior goal difference, Sliskovic's team still need the Spaniards to drop points.
Desperately close
Bosnia-Herzegovina have come desperately close to qualifying for a major tournament all too recently. Three wins in their last three UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers would have taken them to the showpiece in Portugal, but a 1-1 draw against Denmark in their final match saw them slip to a heartbreaking fourth place in a fiercely competitive group.
Painful history
Sliskovic cannot contemplate such a painful piece of sporting history repeating itself. "What happened two years ago can hardly happen again," he said. "What matters is that we played well and beat Belgium, but of course it gives us strength and the hope of surprising Lithuania.
Modest ambitions
"Our aim is third place in the group, which would be a great success for this generation," he added. "We must not forget that we are in a group where the favourites are Spain, Serbia and Montenegro and a Belgium team who haven't justified their top billing."
Players returning
With Lithuania having proved tricky opponents so far, perhaps Sliskovic is sensible to be cautious, but with Mirsad Bešlija, Ivica Grlic and Branimir Bajic back from suspension for Wednesday, the tide of fate may be turning in the former Yugoslav republic's direction.
Improbable dream
True, they will be without the banned Emir Spahic, but if they can keep their heads and hope that all around them start losing theirs, those painful memories of EURO 2004™ qualification could be obliterated by the greatest success in the annals of Bosnia-Herzegovnian football.
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