Bosnia and Herzegovina
1
San Marino
0
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (4-3-3): Vasilj; Malic (1′ st Dedic), Katic (39′ st Bicakcic), Barisic (1′ st Muharemovic), Burnic; Sunjic, Hajradinovic, Tahirovic; Gigovic (1′ st Memić), Bazdar (17′ st Dzeko), Demirovic. Available: Hadzikic¸ Muftic, Mujakic, Huseinbasic, Basic, Saric, Kulenovic. All.: Barbarez.
SAN MARINO (4-3-3): Colombo; Fabbri, Cevoli, T. Benvenuti, Riccardi (25′ st G. Benvenuti); Golinucci, Capicchioni (1′ st Valli Casadei), Zannoni; Subs: Zavoli, Amici, Rossi, Salicioni, Matteoni, Valentini, Pasolini. Coach: Cevoli.
Referee: Luis Godinho (Portugal). Assistants: Rui Teixeira (Portugal) and Pedro Almeida (Portugal). Fourth official: Miguel Nogueira (Portugal). Var: André Narciso (Portugal). Avar: Helder Malheiro (Portugal).
Goals: 21′ st Dzeko.
Notes – Attendance 11.700. Yellow cards: Colombo, Fabbri, Dedic.
The difference between Bosnia and Herzegovina and San Marino in the third qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup is the former Roma and Inter striker, now at Fenerbahce, Edin Dzeko. In a chilling climate, despite the 32 degrees of Zenica, pushing towards the sold-out of the Bilino Polje, packed in all its 11.700 seats, also the homage to the former Roma and Juventus player, Miralem Pjanic who said goodbye to the national team after 115 appearances and 17 goals scored. Not a top pace at the start of the match, with the only jolt maturing in the Bosnian area. In general, San Marino is preferred in the first quarter of an hour and in the 12th minute the white and blues are the protagonists of a great exit from the back, concluded with a corner earned by Nanni. In the following two minutes there are as many opportunities for the Titans, with Lazzari and Zannoni shooting. Not a good aim. Bosnia almost took the lead with Bazdar. But at half-time it was 0-0. At the start of the second half, an attacking foul nullified Demirovic’s back-heel goal. Then Dzeko got up from the bench and the striker needed less than five minutes to make an impact. The swan from Sarajevo started the move and finished it off with no chance for the former Rimini player, Colombo. Who, shortly after, denied the Bosnian striker the second goal. Thus a narrow defeat came, after a positive and proactive performance by the titans.