Bosnia and Herzegovina will host the Netherlands at Bilino Polje in a UEFA Nations League tie on Tuesday, looking to bow out with a bang.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are coming into the game against the Netherlands on the back of a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Germany, and it remains to be seen whether they can produce a strong reaction.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands have already secured a second-place finish in their group with the 4-0 win over Hungary on Saturday. The two teams have nothing to play for, but the Bosnian fans will certainly expect a strong reaction from the players after their heaviest-ever defeat at the hands of Germany.
On paper, the Netherlands are the better team, and it will be interesting to see if they can grind out a good result here. They are through to the knockout rounds of the tournament, and Ronald Koeman could look to rest some of his players here in order to give them a breather.
Team News & Tactics
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jusuf Gazibegovic and Nihad Mujakic will miss out through injury. Other than that, Bosnia and Herzegovina have a fully fit squad to choose from.
The home side are likely to shape up in a 5-2-1-2 formation, with Nikola Vasilj in goal. Amar Dedic and Dzenis Burnic are set to start in the wing-back roles, with Nikola Katic, Ermin Bicakcic, and Adrian Barisic in the back three.
As for the midfield unit, Benjamin Tahirovic and Denis Huseinbasic will start in the double pivot. The duo will look to add defensive cover to the side and win the ball back from the opposition.
Haris Hajradinovic will start as the central attacking midfielder, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. He will help create goalscoring opportunities in the final third with his passing and vision. Finally, Edin Dzeko will lead the line along with Ermedin Demirovic.
Probable Lineup (5-2-1-2): Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Bicakcic, Barisic, Burnic; Tahirovic, Huseinbasic; Hajradinovic; Dzeko, Demirovic
Netherlands
The Netherlands do not have any major injury concerns setting into this game, but they are likely to make wholesale changes to the side that picked up a win over Hungary.
Mark Flekken could start in goal here as the Netherlands shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Devyne Rensch and Jorrel Hato will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan De Vrij will start as the central defenders.
As for the midfield unit, Mats Wieffer and Quinten Timber will be deployed in the middle of the park, and they will look to provide defensive cover to the side. They will look to break down the opposition’s attacking moves as well.
Jeremie Frimpong and Noa Lang should start in the wide areas, and they will look to provide pace and penetration to the attack. Teun Koopmeiners will reprise the central attacking midfield role, and he will look at goals and creativity to the side. Brian Brobbey will lead the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Rensch, De Ligt, De Vrij, Hato; Wieffer, Timber; Frimpong, Koopmeiners, Lang; Brobbey
Key Stats
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have lost four and drawn one of their last five matches in the UEFA Nations League.
- The Netherlands have picked up two draws and two wins from their last five UEFA Nations League matches.
- The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last three meetings against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- 11 goals have been scored in the last three meetings between these two countries.
- The Netherlands have scored at least once in five of their last six outings.
Player to Watch
Edin Dzeko
Bosnia and Herzegovina will be desperate for a positive result, here. Against a heavily changed Netherlands side, they will certainly fancy their chances of grinding out a good result at home.
Edin Dzeko is our key player to watch out for. The hosts will need their star striker to step up and deliver. The veteran attacker has the quality and the experience to perform against the top teams, and it will be interesting to see if he can find the back of the net here.
Prediction
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 Netherlands
The home team will be desperate for a positive outcome, and they are likely to put up a fight here after the disappointing defeat last time out. The Netherlands should field a fully changed side, and this will be a close contest. It will be difficult to separate the two teams here, and they are likely to cancel each other out and share the spoils.
