While qualification is by no means assured for the 2010 event in South Africa, Bosnia-Herzegovina finished second in their group behind European Champions Spain and ahead of Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey. The team's success means Bosnia will progress to the play-offs where it will have two more games to seal a first World Cup finals appearance in four attempts.

It is quite a feat to be playing for a spot in the 2010 World Cup line-up, considering that the Bosnian Soccer Association was only founded in 1992, and, that the national team was not eligible to play in the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

Bosnia-Herzegovina's record in qualifying for South Africa illustrates the improvements which have been made since the national team's formation.

World Cup campaigns gradually improving

Back in 1996/97, Bosnia-Herzegovina played in its first qualifying campaign for a FIFA World Cup: the 1998 finals in France. The team made a good go of it, and although they finished second to last in their group, they beat Slovenia twice and were the only team to beat group winners Denmark.

There was less to celebrate in the following qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup jointly hosted by Korea and Japan. They finished second from the bottom in their group again and once more failed to qualify. But, Bosnia-Herzegovina could at least claim a level of consistency, managing two wins against perennial whipping boys Liechtenstein.

However, despite another disappointing end to qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina came close to a play-off spot, finishing third behind runners-up Spain in a group dominated by Serbia-Montenegro. Bosnia recorded four wins and four draws with only two losses. The progress being made was clear in the two ties with Spain and the close 1-0 away defeat to Serbia-Montenegro.

This time out, however, the Bosnians have gone one better than their previous best showing by reaching the play-off position, thrashing Estonia 7-0 on the way and racking up an impressive 25 goals in total.

Bundesliga's Bosnians leading South Africa challenge

Much of Bosnia's new found attacking prowess can be attributed to players that fans of German league action will be familiar with. Edin Dzeko, Bosnia's top scorer with nine goals in qualifying, spearheads German champions Wolfburg's attack, while Hoffenheim's Vedad Ibisevic adds more German flavor to the Bosnian front line.

Behind the attackers sits another Bundesliga star, Wolfsburg playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic. The Munich-born midfielder, who came through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich, has been an integral part of Bosnia-Herzegovina's growth. He has not only helped take his country to the brink of the World Cup in South Africa, but has garnered much praise in the process as one of the finest creative midfielders in Europe. Misimovic has helped shore up Bosnia's attack along with Hoffenheim midfielder and dead ball specialist Sejad Salihovic.

In fact, the German connection is strong throughout the Bosnian squad, with Kaiserslautern's Dario Damjanovic and Frankfurt's Zlatan Bajramovic offering back-up in the midfield positions, and Mirko Hrgovic, of second division club Greuther Furth, on the bench as a solid second-string striker.

With a host of players plying their trade in top European clubs, from CSKA Moscow to Olympique Marseille, Bosnian players are gaining experience at the sharp end of European league and cup competitions. And, if Bosnia-Herzegovina can qualify for South Africa 2010, experience of a World Cup could help this small Balkan nation push on to the next level of accomplishment.


Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Gregg Benzow