Group J leaders Portugal will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a crunch Euro 2024 qualifier as Roberto Martinez aims to make it three wins in three.
The pressure is on Portugal in their Group J adventures to qualify for Euro 2024. Slovakia are the side that continues to keep Robert Martinez’s side on their toes, and the manager knows any slip-up in these games ahead could cost their chances of topping the group.
Martinez was installed as Fernando Santos’s successor following Portugal’s World Cup exit and has delivered straight away, albeit against lowly-ranked sides. A 4-0 thumping of Liechtenstein was followed by a 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg, putting them on top of Group J.
⏱️ Em contagem decrescente para o jogo com a Bósnia-Herzegovina! #VesteABandeira pic.twitter.com/KdD1o5CqHY
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 15, 2023
However, Martinez will have to manoeuvre two tough games in this round of qualifiers. The first one is on home soil against Bosniaand Herzegovina. And after that, Martinez will take his squad to Iceland for another crunch fixture, aiming to hold the top spot in their group.
Faruk Hadzibegic will aim to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal to keep Portugal and Slovakia on their toes. His Bosnia and Herzegovina side have started their Euro 2024 qualification campaign decently, taking three points from their opening two games.
A stellar victory over Iceland put them on course in Group J before suffering a setback against Slovakia with a 2-0 loss. They remain a point behind the Slovaks and will aim to battle it out until the end to gain relevance.
Hadzibegic will also weigh down on the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina in qualifying for top competitions. Their last big appearance came in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, but they have faltered in their last three attempts to qualify for the Euros, losing each time in the playoffs.
Team News & Tactics
Portugal
Roberto Martinez will have a strong squad and name a lineup that could start the game on the front foot. The manager has experimented with the shape in his two games and might try something different this time.
🔥📸 A Seleção está de volta à ação! ⚽️💥 #VesteABandeira pic.twitter.com/nPv54ppuIk
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 13, 2023
One thing common in those games was the deployment of a back three, using two experienced heads alongside one young defender. He might continue with that backline, he needs to choose between Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva to partner with Danilo Pereira and Ruben Dias.
Martinez could revert to using his setup against Liechtenstein, where Raphael Guerreiro and Joao Cancelo played in midfield. Joao Palhinha will play as the lone anchor behind a four-man midfield comprising Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes in that scenario.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down, and if there were any surprises for his selection in Martinez’s first squad, then he silenced doubters with four goals in two games under the Spaniard. The Al Nassr star will partner with Joao Felix in the front two.
Probable Lineup (3-1-4-2): Patricio; Antonio Silva, Dias, Pereira; Palhinha; Cancelo, Guerreiro, Bernardo Silva, Fernandes; Ronaldo, Felix
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faruk Hadzibegic used two different systems for the first two qualifiers against Iceland and Slovakia. He might revert to the one for the former, where the team achieved success on the pitch. The shape favours a back three, midfield five and two up front.
Golmanski trio pod budnim oko selektora Faruka Hadžibegića i trenera golmana Siniše Mrkobrade.#NFSBiH #zmajevi #EURO2024 #euro2024qualifers pic.twitter.com/qfA6TanT7O
— NFS BIH (@NFSBiH) June 15, 2023
Sheffield United star Anel Ahmedhodzic will feature on the right side of the back three, with Hrvoje Milicevic and Sinisa Sanicanin taking up the other two positions.
Hadzibegic will deploy Amar Dedic and Jusuf Gazibegovic as wing-backs in this system, who will sandwich the three central midfielders. With AC Milan star Rade Krunic absent, it opens the door for experienced midfielder Miralem Pjanic to take up a central role from the left side.
Up front, Edin Dzeko will likely make his 128th appearance for the national side, where he remains their record goalscorer with 64 strikes. With Ermedin Demirovic absent, Smail Prevljak will partner the veteran striker in the front two.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sehic; Ahmedhodzic, Milicevic, Sanicanin; Dedic, Hadziahmetovic, Tahirovic, Pjanic, Gazibegovic; Dzeko, Prevljak
Key Stats
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have lost in the playoffs in each of their last three qualification campaigns.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have never qualified for the Euros in their history.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina are winless in their last four away games in all competitions.
- Portugal have won three of their last four games in all competitions.
- Portugal are yet to concede a goal in this qualification group while scoring ten times in two games.
Player to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo entrenando con Portugal. 🥹🐐 pic.twitter.com/tA61Ch1KFt
— MadridTotal (@MadridTotal_) June 13, 2023
At 38, the Portuguese talisman continues to turn head with his goalscoring prowess and the undying desire to compete at the highest levels. He might have left Europe for the Saudi Arabia experiment, but that has not seen a dip in his form.
Ronaldo has continued to score regularly and has four goals in his last two games for Portugal. The 38-year-old will look to continue his bright start under Martinez, aiming to achieve top form before next summer’s finals.
Prediction
Portugal 3-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina are winless in their last four away games in all competitions, and that run might stretch against Portugal. Although this fixture is tipped as a tough one for the Portuguese, Martinez will remain confident of achieving a comfortable victory with the players he has.
Cristiano Ronaldo & co. have a task at hand, but something they will come through unscathed and top their group. Moreover, the Portuguese defence is strong and will not allow Edin Dzeko & co. a sniff at Rui Patricio’s goal. Hence, it is safe to assume the Seleccao will take home all three points comfortably.
