The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced one of its heaviest defeats in history, losing 4:1 to Luxembourg in the ninth round of the European Championship qualifiers. Historically, the team has faced numerous losses, but never appeared as vulnerable as in this match in Luxembourg. Playing with a weakened squad, absent key first-team players like Dzeko, Pjanic, Kolasinac, and Sehic, the team’s performance was notably impacted.
Savo Milosevic, the head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, took this opportunity to field many players who had seen limited playtime in previous years. This decision was evident on the field and drew considerable criticism. Commentator Mansur Dogan expressed his disappointment, noting the team’s ongoing struggles with consistency and lack of a clear game strategy. He highlighted that the team’s first shot on goal came only in the 87th minute.
The match’s trajectory was set early on when Olesen scored for Luxembourg in the sixth minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. Luxembourg’s high pressing and ball possession overwhelmed the Bosnian team, who struggled to counter the host’s motivation and tactics. The situation worsened when Luxembourg was awarded a penalty in the 26th minute, leading to a 2:0 score by Rodrigues. This moment was marred by Bosnia and Herzegovina fans disrupting the match, actions likely to attract severe penalties from the Football Association.
Despite changes made by Coach Milosevic at halftime, the team’s fortunes didn’t improve. Olesen missed a scoring opportunity, but Martins soon increased Luxembourg’s lead. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defense managed a late goal, making it 3:1, but Luxembourg quickly responded with a fourth goal.
The Bosnian team’s performance was lackluster, with only two shots on goal, reflecting a lack of confidence and cohesion. Many debutants failed to impress, and Rade Krunic, facing the media, apologized for the team’s performance. He acknowledged the team’s declining form throughout the qualifiers and vowed not to give up despite slim chances of advancing.
As the qualifiers progress, Portugal leads the group with 27 points, followed by Slovakia and Luxembourg. Bosnia and Herzegovina, with nine points, sits above only Liechtenstein, who has yet to score a point.
