UEFA Nations League Northern Ireland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina 8/09

UEFA Nations League Northern Ireland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

Both teams hope to start the competition with a success.

State of form

Present in Group C of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Northern Ireland took second place behind Germany but ahead of the Czech Republic, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino. In the play-offs, the British fell against Switzerland (1-0 on both sets).
After Belgium and Greece beat group H in qualifying, Bosnia failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Edin Dzeko’s partners had a good fight with Greece but a defeat in Cyprus during the second half of the season. return (2-3) sealed this selection.

Headcount for Northern Ireland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

For Northern Ireland, the coach will have to deal with the absence of several elements of experience: we think of goalkeepers Carroll (45 caps) and McGovern (35 caps), defender Chris Brunt (65 caps), the usual captain Steven Davis (101 caps) in midfield Norwood (53 caps) and McGinn (53 caps) and forward Lafferty (20 goals in 67 caps). Defenders Hugues (Heart of Middlothian), McAuley (WBA), Evans (Leicester) and Cathcart (Watford) and Evans (Blackburn) and McNair (Middlesbrough) should play an important role.
On the side of Bosnia, the vice-captain Begovic and the left-back of Arsenal Kolasinac are absent for this meeting while the chess Spahic (94 caps), Misimovic (85 caps), Medunjanin (60 caps), Lulic (57 caps) and Ibisevic (83 caps) retired internationally. Playmaker Pjanic and the tough Roma striker Dzeko are available.