Germany will aim to book a place in the next phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League when they welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion on Saturday.
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League continues into the weekend, with Matchday 5 culminating on Saturday. Germany vs Bosnia and Herzegovina will be one of the most eye-catching fixtures, as a victory will take the home side to the next phase.
Germany showed some promising signs at UEFA Euro 2024 but could not go the distance in the home tournament. However, Julian Nagelsmann continues to wield his influence, with his charges cruising thus far in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign, dropping points only once in their four outings to go on the verge of qualifying for the next stage.
As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, a campaign in UEFA Nations League B is on the cards, although they can retain their status in the top flight with successive wins to end the current campaign. However, the signs are not promising for Sergej Barbarez and his charges, who have managed only one point in four outings thus far.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 win for Germany, with Deniz Undav scoring a match-winning brace. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Germany
Julian Nagelsmann has a few injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Germany’s head coach has made a few alterations to the group he picked in the October international break.
Janis Blaswich, Waldemar Anton, David Raum, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kevin Schade, Jamie Leweling, and Jonathan Burkardt missed the cut due to different reasons. Meanwhile, Angelo Stiller (muscular) and Deniz Undav (hamstring) have pulled out from the squad after picking up injuries.
Alexander Nubel, Oliver Baumann, and Stefan Ortega are vying for the vacant goalkeeper’s berth in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence. Nubel should get the nod, with Germany lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bosnia and Herzegovina. The backline will feature Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Maximilian Mittelstadt.
As for the midfield unit, Pascal Gross and Robert Andrich should pair up in the double pivot. Florian Wirtz will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, and Tim Kleindienst completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Kimmich, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstadt; Gross, Andrich; Musiala, Wirtz, Sane; Kleindienst
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Like his counterpart in the German dugout, Barbarez has seen a few players withdraw their names from the squad ahead of the trip to the Europa-Park Stadion. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s head coach has made a few changes to the group he picked last month.
Sead Kolasinac and Stjepan Radeljic have pulled out from the away side’s squad. In addition, Dario Saric and Enver Kulasin missed the cut after earning call-ups to the national team in the October international break.
Nikola Vasilj will take his spot between the sticks, with Bosnia and Herzegovina lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation in front of him. The central defensive unit will likely feature Nihad Mujakic, Adrian Leon Barisic, and Ermin Bicakcic.
As for the midfield unit, Armin Gigovic and Denis Huseinbasic will pair up in the double pivot, with Amar Dedic and Dzenis Burnic being the two wing-backs. Finally, Ivan Basic will reprise the no. 10 role, with Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demerovic being the two strikers.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Vasilj; Mujakic, Bicakcic, Barisic; Dedic, Gigovic, Huseinbasic, Burnic; Basic; Dzeko, Demirovic
Key Stats
- Germany have never lost vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, winning twice and drawing once in the three meetings thus far, scoring six goals and conceding three.
- Germany are unbeaten after the regulation 90 minutes of their past 13 matches (excluding an extra-time defeat against Spain at UEFA Euro 2024).
- Bosnia and Herzegovina are on a 10-game winless run across all competitions, suffering nine defeats (D1). The Dragons have failed to score in five matches during that period.
- Germany have drawn five of their ten home games in the UEFA Nations League. They have been unable to score in two games during that period while keeping three clean sheets.
- Florian Wirtz has amassed two goals and two assists in his last five appearances for Germany.
Player to Watch
Edin Dzeko
While Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sane were viable candidates for the section, we have picked Edin Dzeko as our Player to Watch, considering the visitors must play out of their skin to get anything from Saturday’s game in Freiburg.
The 38-year-old might be on his last legs but continues to pose a threat in the final third. Dzeko found the back of the net in the reverse fixture and will look to add to his 67 goals thus far for Bosnia and Herzegovina this weekend.
Prediction
Germany 3-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
A full-strength German side might have been too strong for the away side. However, with the hosts nursing some issues due to the absence of pivotal figures, Bosnia and Herzegovina might fancy their prospects in the final third.
Edin Dzeko should add to his impressive tally in international football with another strike for Bosnia. However, that might only be a consolation goal, with Germany still having more than enough quality to get the desired result. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Julian Nagelsmann and his charges, with the victory taking them to the next stage of the UEFA Nations League.