Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group : F with Argentina, Iran and Nigeria 
Current Fifa Ranking : 19th with 899 points
World Cup Appearances : None
Best Achievement : No appearances yet
Head Coach : Safet Susic
Captain : Emir Spahic
Bosnia-Herzegovina will be the only World Cup debutants at this edition, with a squid that is built to impress. Although they have leaked several goals in, they were the fourth highest goal scoring European side during the qualifiers. Safet Susic, a former Yugoslavia national player, instilled an attacking mentality within the squad which both helps and hinders their chances.
The Dragons are probably the toughest side in the group after Argentina, therefore should things go ‘as plan’ the squad is good enough to keep Iran and Nigeria at bay whilst trying to upset the odds against Messi and co. This does not mean that both Iran and Nigeria are to be under-estimated, as has been the Achilles heel for countless nations in previous editions.
Susic has previously been praised on his involvement with players’ national career, and has also helped revive a few. Current captain and Bayer Leverkusen stalwart Emir Saphic, along with Schalke 04’s Sead Kolasinac, will lead his troops on the field whilst trying to keep strikers at bay in order to assist Stoke City’s goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. In midfield, Roma’s superb Miralem Pjanic is in sparkling form for club and country and will hope to keep at it until at least summer. Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko and Stuttgart’s Vedad Ibisevic were quite effective together during qualification and will hope to keep that partnership alive.
As stated, Bosnia-Herzegovina does have the qualities and talent necessary to progress from this group, albeit probably not at first place. Once the knock-outs are reached, further advancement shall depend entirely on form, fitness and luck, as well as whom the opposition turns out to be. With this being the Dragons’ first ever World Cup, exceeding the group stages should already be considered a success.
