Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Englandvs.Bosnia H'vina

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 June 2024, 08:38
In their first of two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up friendlies, England welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to Newcastle United's St James' Park base on Monday evening.

While the Three Lions are ramping up their preparations for a latest bid for international stardom, the visitors to the North East will not be present at this year's continental gathering.

Match preview

Regarded as one of the favourites to go all the way in Germany this summer and end 58 years of hurt - at least on the men's side of the game - the gargantuan pressure on England's shoulders could hardly be greater as they endeavour to emulate their female counterparts.

Two years on from the women's team conquering the continent at Euro 2022, Gareth Southgate's troops have the intention of righting their Wembley wrongs, where Italy-inflicted penalty-shootout heartache forced them to accept the silver medal on their own patch in 2021.

Unsurprisingly navigating their Euro 2024 qualifying section without suffering a single defeat, England pit their wits against Serbia, Slovenia and Euro 2020 semi-final foes Denmark in the group stage later this month; their quest for glory begins against the former on June 16.

Before checking into their German hotel, friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland (June 7) at least offer Southgate's men the chance to arrive at Euro 2024 with at least one win for the calendar year to shout about, having flattered to deceive in March's exhibition double-header.

After Real Madrid-bound teenager Endrick propelled Brazil to a 1-0 Wembley win, it took a last-gasp Jude Bellingham intervention to rescue a 2-2 draw with Belgium for Southgate, whose future naturally remains a hot-button topic amid suggestions that Manchester United want to tempt him away from the national team.

While England booked their ticket to the Euros without encountering many obstacles, Bosnia will not be among the teams trying to prevent football from coming home, having failed to make the most of their playoff golden ticket after finishing second-from-bottom in Group J.

Only three of the Dragons' 10 qualification matches ended in victory - and two were against global whipping boys Liechtenstein - but their Nations League performance still earned them a playoff semi-final date with Ukraine, who conceded first on March 21 from a Mykola Matviyenko own goal.

However, as the clock ticked over into the last five minutes of normal time, Artem Dovbyk and Roman Yaremchuk's quickfire strikes completed a terrific Ukraine turnaround, meaning that Bosnia are still waiting for their first Euros appearance as an independent nation.

Participants at the 2014 World Cup - their sole major tournament since the breakup of Yugoslavia - Bosnia arrive at St James' Park on a dismal four-match losing sequence and must also face reigning European champions Italy on June 9 before beginning preparations for life in League A of the Nations League.

Furthermore, the Dragons have to go back to June 2018 for the last time that they won a friendly game away from home - failing to score in each of their last four and losing three on the bounce - statistics which serve as another reason for pessimism before a first-ever showdown with England.

England friendly form:

L

D

England form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

L

D

Bosnia-Herzegovina form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

L

L

Team News

Owing to his participation in the Champions League final, Real Madrid hotshot Bellingham will play no part in England's first match of the month, and the same also goes for Manchester United's Luke Shaw, whom Southgate has admitted is a "long shot" for the Euros.

Shaw's Red Devils teammate Harry Maguire should also be spared due to his muscular concern, and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is expected to be the man to benefit from the England stalwart's fitness troubles, one of a few Eagles hoping to play their way into the manager's good books.

Eberechi Eze and the uncapped Adam Wharton are also included in that troupe, as both men have benefitted from the notable snubs of Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips to make Southgate's 33-man preliminary squad, which must be cut down to a maximum of 26 before June 7.

Of course, all-time top scorer Harry Kane would normally be the first name on the teamsheet, but on account of his recent back problem, Ollie Watkins may spearhead the charge this time instead.

Meanwhile, Bosnia boss Sergej Barbarez - taking charge of his first game for the national team - has called up a plethora of uncapped troops, but there is still a place in the ranks for captain Edin Dzeko, the all-time leading appearance maker and record scorer for his nation.

The 38-year-old is primed to win cap number 153 for the national team on Monday, but Bosnia have lost ex-Arsenal and current Atalanta BC defender Sead Kolasinac to injury.

In addition, 34-year-old Ermin Bicakcic - the most experienced defender in the visitors' ranks - missed the final weekend of the 2. Bundesliga season with Eintracht Braunschweig due to an ankle concern and should not be seen at St James' Park either.

England possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Gallagher; Saka, Watkins, Foden

Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:

Vasilj; Ahmedhodzic, Hadzikadunic, Mujakic; Gazibegovic, Krunic, Tahirovic, Omerovic; Hajradinovic; Demirovic, Dzeko

We say: England 3-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Even though Southgate may tinker with his England team both before and during Monday's friendly, the incentive for fringe players to stake a Euro 2024 claim is enough motivation to see off an out-of-sorts Bosnia side.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager.