Ten greatest matches of the BiH national team!

The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing for its first and historic match at the World and European Championships. Many, with good reason, believe that tomorrow's match at Marakana against Argentina will be the most important match of the BiH selection since its founding.

However, the road to the spectacular achievement and qualification for the World Cup in the most football-loving country in the world was long.

Since the first official match against Albania, BiH has played a large number of important matches. There were victories, brave draws, but also difficult and painful defeats. Ahead of the match with Argentina, the BiH news agency Patria (NAP) presents a selection of the 10 greatest matches of the Dragons. Rekindle memories and warm your palms for the match at Marakana.

Ten greatest matches of BiH until the World Cup in Brazil!

1. Albania – BiH 2:0, Tirana, friendly match – The first official match was played on November 30, 1995. BiH lost, but playing this match was a great victory, considering that only a few days before, a peace agreement for BiH had just been agreed upon. Some veterans like Husref Musemić also played for the national team at the time, and the coach was Fuad Muzurović.

2. BiH – Italy 2:1, Sarajevo, friendly match – Just one year after the first official match on November 6, 1996, BiH defeated a world giant and multiple champion. Hasan Salihamidžić's goal at Koševo decided the legendary Italian national team, led by Paolo Maldini and Gianfranco Zola. BiH surprised the world and showed that it had the talent to become a football superpower.  

3. Denmark – BiH 0:2, Copenhagen, Qualifiers for the European Championship in Portugal 2004. – The match was played on April 2, 2003. A phenomenal performance by the BiH national team and a shock in Denmark. Sergej Barbarez's goal, and then perhaps the best action of BiH, after which Elvir Baljić tore the net of the Danes, delighted the hearts of BiH fans. That action in which Berberović passed the ball back with his heel to Bešlija, and he found Baljić at the far post, will be written in golden letters in the history of BiH football. Unfortunately, this victory did not lead to qualification, as we failed to beat the Danes in Koševo a few months later. It was 1:1.

4. Spain – BiH 1:1, Murcia, Qualifiers for the World Cup in Germany 2006. – On June 8, 2005, we were brutally robbed for the first time. Spain equalized with a goal from Marchena in the officially sixth, and probably eighth minute of stoppage time, and instead of BiH, went to the playoffs. BiH led the entire match with a masterful goal from Misimović, who brought Casillas to the ground with a dribble and scored routinely. However, the referee simply did not want to blow the final whistle until the Spaniards scored. Later, we had a chance to beat Serbia and Montenegro in Belgrade, but under the threat of tens of thousands of enraged fans, we didn't have a real chance.

5. Belgium – BiH 2:4, Brussels, Qualifiers for the World Cup in South Africa 2010. – A masterclass by our Dragons on March 28, 2009! This match heralded the era of Edin Džeko, the Diamond of BiH. His guided missile hit the top corner of the Belgian goal as early as the 7th minute and foreshadowed the hosts' debacle. Zlatan Bajramović, Misimović, and Sanel Jahić filled the net of the favored Belgium to the brim. We advanced to the playoffs ahead of Turkey and Belgium, and behind Spain, which would become world champion.

6. Portugal – BiH 0:1, Lisbon, Playoff for the World Cup in South Africa 2010. – November 14, 2009. The first match of the nightmare with the Portuguese in the playoffs. The hosts won with a goal from Bruno Alves, but BiH outplayed a team that included Ronaldo and Deco. We hit the woodwork three times. All media reports spoke of the brave Dragons and the excellent play of Džeko, Misimović, and Ibišević. This defeat was a prelude to the one in the second leg in Zenica. Meireles decided it then, and the BiH selection, under pressure in Zenica, could not repeat the performance from Lisbon.  

7. France – BiH 1:1, Paris, Qualifiers for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine 2012. – We outplayed a superpower and world champion on October 11, 2011. Džeko scored a phenomenal goal and froze the French. We played maturely and fluidly. Everything in BiH was ready for celebration. We needed a win for direct qualification, but the referee stood in the way and postponed the euphoria for two years. A relatively suspicious penalty towards the end of the match was caused by Emir Spahić, and Nasri was sure for the hosts. This sent the French to South Africa, and us into another insurmountable playoff with Portugal.  

8. BiH – Greece 3:1, Zenica, Qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil – On March 23, 2013, things finally started going our way. Pape arranged the pieces, and the Greek bunker was broken in Zenica. For a long time, neither before nor after this match, did anyone score three goals against the Greeks. Džeko with two goals and Ibišević finished the job. We passed the toughest test then, almost routinely. We were no longer just brave; we had become strong.

9. Slovakia – BiH 1:2, Žilina, Qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil – We complicated our lives with a loss to Slovakia in Zenica. Therefore, we had to win in Žilina on September 10, 2013. And we did. First, our fans invaded the small Slovak town, and then Hajrović's bomb sent them into delirium. Sušić showed faith in the players, and they showed incredible willpower and patience. Bičakčić first canceled out the lead of the dangerous Slovakia, and luck was also on our side. The Slovaks had great chances, but Begović was excellent.

10. Lithuania – BiH 0:1, Kaunas, Qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil – October 15, 2013. Ibišević, 68th minute. That will be recorded. Since then, a new era in BiH football has been measured. In the last qualifying match, BiH secured tomorrow's debut at Marakana against Argentina. We struggled in Kaunas, the toughest, most nervous match in history played in the rainy Baltic country. But it was clear we would pass. We had already gone through a (too) difficult path.