Bosnia and Herzegovina did a fine job at building a competitive team in a short period of time, but they are yet to prove their worth at the highest level. Since this is the first time that the small European country participates at the World Cup, expectations are not very high. This should help in a group where Argentina is the overwhelming favorite to prevail, but Bosnia and Herzegovina have the best chance at finishing second.
There is not much to say about their chances to actually win the competition, with Bet365 giving them odds of 151 to 1. The team lacks experience and this will show during the elimination rounds, but even outshining Nigeria and Iran can prove problematic. Bosnia and Herzegovina relies on a group of young players that compete for some of the best European clubs and the biggest challenge is to have them playing as a team.
Group stage and event prospects
Bosnia and Herzegovina doesn't know how to play defensive football and throughout the qualification campaign they simply tried to score one more goal than the opponent. The strategy worked like a charm as they won the group and sent Greece to the playoffs, while they advanced directly to the group stage. Surviving it will be slightly more difficult and Nigeria is the top contender, but the Europeans are slightly better offensively while fielding a consistent midfield.
Bet365 prices them at 1.83 to make it to the next stage, while their opponents are given odds above even value. It goes without saying that the head to head game with Nigeria will be the most important one, while any point scrapped against Argentina to weigh heavily in the balance. Coach Safet Susic will need to prepare the game against the South Americans as well as he can, because the 4-1-3-2 formation that he usually uses will be extremely vulnerable.
Key players for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup
Bosnia and Herzegovina has a long way to go to become a competitive team, with both the midfield and defense struggling against better opponents. One area where the Europeans are quite successful is the offense, where Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic are a constant threat for any defensive. Those who are willing to take a leap of faith with Dzeko should know that the odds for him to be the top scorer at the World Cup 2014 are 67 to 1, while Ibisevic is credited with odds of 126 to 1.
They are not particularly creative strikers, but have both the skills and stamina to outplay aging defenders, while rarely missing clear scoring opportunities. Pjanic is another player that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to have fit throughout the group stage, because he is their best midfielder.
As playmaker, he is expected to provide Dzeko and Ibisevic with useful passes, but he is unlikely to come to the defense's rescue if things go sour. Keeping the ball away from their own half will be the real challenge for Safet Susic, as his team struggles in this area and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is not experienced enough.
The bottom line
Bosnia and Herzegovina have a clear objective for World Cup 2014, with the goal being to advance to the next stage. Winning the tournament or even the group is most unlikely, but from a punter's perspective, there is just enough value to take the odds of 1.83 for the Europeans to make it out of the groups.
