Germany are back in international action on Friday when they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA Nations League at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. The Germans have four points from a possible six which is enough to lead the way ahead of the Netherlands in League A Group 3 while the Bosnians are third with one point so far.
The 2-2 draw with the Dutch extended Germany’s away day struggles with four wins from their last 13 games outside of their homeland. The UEFA Euro 2024 hosts and quarterfinalists have just one win from nine UNL games away from home and four consecutive draws although Friday’s hosts are not expected to have enough to stop their visitors from winning here.
A goalless draw with Hungary ended a series of seven straight losses for Bosnia who also lost their final four Euro 2024 qualifiers which ended their hopes of going to Germany last summer. Although they did make it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, they are yet to feature at a continental championship under their independent status.
Bosnia are on a three-game winning streak at home in the UNL but they have never beaten Germany in their current independent state. Their last meeting was a friendly back in 2010 which finished 3-1 to the Germans with Bastian Schweinsteiger scoring twice.
Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday, October 10 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Stadion Bilino Polje – Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- TV: FS2 | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: Bosnia +900; Draw +500; Germany -450
League A Group 3
Bosnia’s UNL existence so far has basically been to bounce between League A and B and this edition already looks likely to follow that trend with Hungary the main competition to avoid finishing last. An automatic relegation back to the second tier can be avoided in third place with Sergej Barbarez’s men currently leading the Hungarians on goal difference. A 5-2 loss to the Netherlands was followed by a 0-0 with the Magyars while Germany opened with a 5-0 demolition job on Hungary before a draw with the Dutch. Nagelsmann’s side boasts a stronger defense which puts them top of the zone although only second place is needed to reach the quarterfinals.
Team news
Bosnia: Barbarez is missing Ifet Dakovac who withdrew and the Dragons remain captained by 38-year-old Edin Dzeko who is in strong scoring form for Fenerbahce with nine goals from 13 outings so far. Dzeko should pair with Ermedin Demirovic up top while Sead Kolasinac marshals the backline.
Possible Bosnia XI: Vasilj; Gazibegovic, Kolasinac, Bicakcic, Katic, Dedic; Tahorivic, Hajradanovic; Basic; Demirovic, Dzeko.
Germany: Kai Havertz has withdrawn from the squad along with Jamal Musiala, David Raum, Benjamin Henrichs and Robin Koch so Robin Gosens, Kevin Schade and Jamie Leweling as well as Jonathan Burkardt have been called up. None of Germany’s three regular goalkeepers are available with Manuel Neuer now retired and both Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp injured. Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel and Janis Blaswich are all in the group and none of them have ever featured for Die Mannschaft.
Possible Germany XI: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Wirtz, Andrich, Gross, Gnabry; Undav, Burkardt.
Prediction
This one should end with Gemany winning even if Bosnia could make it tricky in places. Nagelsmann’s side have more than enough quality despite their absences to end up victorious on the road for a rare away win. Pick: Bosnia 0, Germany 2.
Read the full article here