Bosnia-Herzegovina (National Football)

Lionel Messi looked like a phantom for most of the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Aside from one moment of sheer brilliance, scoring the go-ahead goal, there was a shadow on him that kept him in check and rendered him ordinary for the majority of the 90 minutes.  

Only months prior to the start of World Cup 2014 preparations, Ferencvaros Budapest player Muhamed Besic wasn't even on Safet Susic's radar.  Nor on the radar of U21 Bosnia-Herzegovina manager Vlado Jagodic.  He was a man in exile, both for club and country.  However unlikely, Besic has emerged as one of Bosnia's key players and arguably the country's man of the match against Argentina.  

Born in Berlin, 21-year-old Muhamed Besic never had any qualms about his national team selection.  In numerous interviews, he vehemently stated (Serbian outlet B92) that he only wanted to represent the country he loved, Bosnia-Herzegovina.  

Coming through the Hamburger SV system, Besic was highly praised as a defensive gem and perhaps even a future key component of Germany's defense.  It wasn't meant to be. Despite solid performances for HSV II, and even three caps for the senior side, an argument with manager Torsten Fink resulted in Besic's transfer to Hungarian side Ferencváros Budapest in 2012.

In the meantime, Besic made his debut for Bosnia's U21 team, and in November of 2010 for the senior side, becoming the country's youngest player to do so, a record which was previously held by Miralem Pjanic.  Alternating between the U21 team and the senior team, Besic got into another disagreement, this time with the U21 coach Jagodic.  After a year away from both the national team system, and his former club in Germany, Besic honed his skills in Hungary, quickly becoming one of the league's best players.

In an interview for BHDragons.com, Hungarian football expert Tomasz Mortimer stated, “I see him playing for someone like Hamburg again, definitely. He really is well above the rest in our league and seems to have calmed down off the field which is great! He’ll leave in the summer without a doubt.”  Mortimer's words proved prophetic as Besic, following a public apology, was recalled into the national team fold.

Who would have guessed that Susic had grand plans in mind for young Besic.  At one point, Susic even stated (per B92) that Besic is the only player on the squad that can truly man-mark Lionel Messi. 

After a year out, Besic became an integral part of Susic's team, who changed the formation to a 4-2-3-1 from the 4-4-2 he utilized during the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.  Even though the 4-4-2 system with Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) and Vedad Ibisevic (Stuttgart) as the striking tandem yielded 30 goals, and 18 between the two strikers, Susic needed to balance the midfield.

Weary of the jump in quality from teams they faced in the qualifiers to the World Cup, Susic opted to include Besic at the defensive midfield role, playing alongside Pjanic. From zero to hero, Besic proved his worth in two pre-World Cup 2014 fixtures against the Ivory Coast and Mexico, both wins, thanks in part to impressive performances from Besic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZEmgeloQ28

Even though Besic had raised eyebrows and performed well above expectations, there was still a question if Susic would truly start such a young player in Bosnia's debut World Cup match.  Not only did Besic start, he became one of Bosnia's key players, shadowing Argentina's Lionel Messi at every turn.

Even though Messi scored the winning goal against Bosnia, Besic rendered the Barcelona player invisible for most of the match.  "Messi's Shadow," soon became an internet sensation in his home country.  Fans took to the Internet to feature Besic in a series of memes where the player photo bombs Messi's selfie pictures, like a creeping ninja, shadowing him even after the match.

One thing is certain, Susic has done well to change Bosnia's formation to a 4-2-3-1, effectively balancing the team's already potent attack with some defensive insurance, on the back of young Besic.  The player has already proved his worth and if he continues at this rate, Bosnia's young exile could become the country's unlikely hero.  

Bosnia-Herzegovina were supposed to play the supporting act in the World Cup opener to Lionel Messi and his Argentina.

However, their performance was way beyond that, the Dragons proving once again that they are not in Brazil by accident. Despite the 2-1 loss and some old flaws that proved costly, there were plenty of positives for Bosnia-Herzegovina and they have something to hope for in the next two matches against Nigeria and Iran.

The match against Argentina was the debut for the Dragons not just at the World Cup, but in any major tournament. The inexperience obviously caused nervousness and the Bosnians opened their World Cup challenge in disappointing fashion. Sead Kolasinac's third-minute own goal was a direct result of the jitters and nervousness that could be cut with the knife at the Maracana Stadium. The Bosnians were impressed, in awe maybe, by the big stage and the fact that they had finally reached it. They paid a huge price for it.

However, all this can be seen as the first positive for Safet Susic and his team. Such a horror start could easily have destroyed their whole tournament, but the Bosnians did not allow it to affect them. They did not lost their shape and focus, instead they made a rapid recovery to more than match Argentina.

Susic deployed his expected version of the 4-2-3-1 system, with his holding midfielder Muhamed Besic in a specific role of controlling  Messi. The Berlin-born 22-year-old defender, who plays for Hungarian side Ferencvaros, impressed with his performance, shutting down Messi for most of the first half. Defensively, Bosnia-Herzegovina looked aggressive, determined and quite disciplined in the first half, almost completely neutralising the opposition.

However, some of this has been lacking in their attacking game. Argentina looked vulnerable with their three/five at the back, but the Bosnians failed to exploit their flaws properly. Even though Zvjezdan Misimovic performed well in the first half, there was an impression that in a way he chokes Miralem Pjanic, who was forced to operate deeper than he should have done.

By the way Pjanic is some player for Bosnia. Been talked about by so many EPL clubs surely one will snap him up

— Jason Burt (@JBurtTelegraph) June 15, 2014

The contribution of two wingers Senad Lulic and Izet Hajrovic could have been better as well, and all this left Edin Dzeko cut off and almost unused.

If the nervousness was the problem in the first half, then the reaction to Argentina’s tactical changes can be blamed for bad periods in the second half.

It is to the Bosnians' credit that Argentina were forced to make structural changes at the break. Argentina's changes did work for them, with Messi looking like a different player who was rewarded with a stunning goal.

With late substitutions, Susic failed to break the opponents' rhythm, allowing Argentina to reorganise and retake control.

Still, Bosnia-Herzegovina exited the Maracana with more positives than negatives. Showing maturity with the way they recovered after the early own goal was the first, but the wind they will have in their sails after competing—and in some parts of the match outplaying—Argentina will be the most important for the matches to come, as Susic said in an interview on national TV (in Bosnian) after the match.

"We must stay realistic. This was a match where we tried to be a good opponent to the team that is one of the title favourites.

Now we are waiting for the important matches. I think that, at the end, we have nothing to be disappointed for."

And he was right. The Bosnians have some things to change, some to improve, but overall, they have nothing to be ashamed of after their first ever match in the World Cup.

They proved to the world—and themselves—that they are capable of making big things and now they have to confirm where it counts: In the battle for the second place in the group.

When Bosnia qualified for its first World Cup, thousands took to the streets across the country in wild and jubilant celebrations.  As preparations for Brazil ramped up, nobody expected a catastrophic flood situation to envelop the country.  

The region was hit with what experts call the worst flood in over 120 years.  Since it began, the rising waters have caused millions of dollars worth of damage, a rising regional death toll currently at 40 and close to a million displaced people.  For a population of 3.5 million people, it’s a catastrophe of unparalleled proportions.  

For the Bosnian national team, this isn't just added motivation. It’s a mission.

Edin Dzeko, perhaps the most well-known player on the squad, told CNN:

I think it's important for the people, for the world, to know this is not a game.  This is something serious. So many people have lost their lives, lost their homes.  They were trying to build something for themselves and for their kids over the past 20 years and they've lost it just like that.

The swelling rivers have caused numerous other problems, including landslides and the specter of the country's past to rear its ugly head.  Millions of uncleared land mines from the 1990s war still dot the landscape in the country, and the flood situation threatens to shift them and expose them to the surface, potentially causing more deaths.

The Bosnian national team took action.  Besides Edin Dzeko's social media campaign, the football federation organized a friendly match against the U21 team that was played in Gradacac, in one of the regions hit the worst. The senior side celebrated a win but more importantly raised over $50,000 from ticket sales, completely donated to flood victims.

The Dragons traveled to Maglaj, one of the most heavily hit towns in northern Bosnia, and directly participated in the donation effort.  They signed shirts, took pictures and handed out donations, but above all, they did what they do best: brought good will to a population on its knees.

As the other 31 World Cup nations finalize their preparations and get ready to travel, the Dragons leave behind a country on its knees and a population in tears.  Zvjezdan Misimovic, the most capped Bosnian player in history perhaps said it best (link in Bosnian), "We have the duty, and the honor to do our part, to help in any way we can."  

For Bosnia, the national football team goes beyond sports and athletics. It transcends ethnic identity, religion and individualism. It goes to the World Cup not to show off its might, but to show the character of the Bosnian people, as their direct representatives.

Asmir Begovic may already be one of the most formidable goalkeepers in the Premier League, but this summer he'll be testing himself against the likes of Lionel Messi's Argentina and Neymar's Brazil in his first major international tournament with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following on from my interview with his international team-mate, Edin Dzeko, I spoke to Stoke City's star keeper about the importance of English football to his game, his country's proud history of producing exciting and technical footballers, and the game's power to unite people.

Bleacher Report: It’s been one of the Premier League’s most competitive seasons in years with some intense competition at every level of the table. As a goalkeeper, how beneficial could such a season prove to be as preparation for the World Cup this summer?

Asmir Begovic: I think it’s very good preparation. It’s the best league in the world, and I get to play at such a high level week in, week out. That’s the only way to be big-game ready and prepare yourself for a tournament like the World Cup because it’s going to be played at such a high level too.

So you want to be playing games at the highest level possible and obviously, as part of our preparations, we’ve got a couple of very strong friendly matches, and I think it’s important to try and play as many highly competitive games as we can before the World Cup.

B/R: How do the different challenges faced by Bosnia and Stoke at an international and club level compare?

AB: The way it can relate sometimes is that Stoke are maybe a relative team to Bosnia. We are kind of a mid-table team in Europe, if you know what I mean? We are one of the better sides, and obviously Stoke are not a bad side either, but sometimes against the big teams we’re underdogs and have to play with the underdog tag and have that label put upon us.

We have to play accordingly in those games against bigger teams. The games against teams that are similar and in and around us, especially in the World Cup, mean that much more. So I guess the situations are similar in some ways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZbnbi7cSYw

B/R: Given the kind of adversity Stoke have so often faced from people who dislike the team’s style of play—especially under Tony Pulis—have you found that your experiences playing through that kind of opposition have helped you to push yourself and others on at the international level?

AB: Yeah, I think so. I think it can work in a positive way because you get to experience different kinds of environments and thoughts of people. You can respond to it in a positive way.

People are always going to have an opinion on what you do, but you have to have a thicker skin and know what it’s like to be in that position, so it’s good to experience that, of course.

B/R: Are there any past players from Bosnian football’s history that you really look up to, or who have helped guide you on to becoming your country’s No. 1 goalkeeper? I know in the past you’ve said that Oliver Kahn was your role model growing up.

AB: Well, I think he was always my main role model because I grew up in Germany. There are some big, big players in Bosnia’s history from when things weren’t going as well as they are now. People like Sergej Barbarez, Muhamed Konjic: These are the leaders of the teams of the past. There are many other people too who went before us.

The generation of players we have now is one of the best generations Bosnia has ever had, and we have been able to take that on what they started, but obviously they lived in more difficult times and kind of made the way for us to do our thing now.

B/R: Do you look to any of the performances from some of the Bosnian players who were part of the former Yugoslavia teams that went to past World Cups? People like Enver Maric at the 1974 World Cup maybe?

AB: Yeah. He was a big, big goalkeeper and someone who, of course, I’ve seen highlights of and actually got the pleasure of speaking to once or twice. You pick their brains a little bit and kind of see what experiences they’ve gone through and see if it in any way relates to you and any way you can use it for a positive effect for yourself.

There’s been a lot of players—and he is probably one of the biggest from the past too—who you would follow. I know Tomislav Piplica, who is our goalkeeping coach now, was a big goalkeeper in his time and who I got to watch when growing up in Germany. So there’s a few big players for sure.

B/R: You played for Canada at U-20 level and have lived in Germany and Canada. What made you decide to switch back to Bosnia as a senior international?

AB: The bottom line is that all through my life, my family were very much Bosnian, and I was born there. It’s the country of my birth. We’ve always remained very Bosnian, but as you said, I did experience different countries and enjoyed every one, and I enjoyed my experience playing for Canada as well at the time. That’s where I was living, that’s where my life was, and I didn’t really think about anything else too much.

When the opportunity came to represent Bosnia, I just couldn’t turn it down: for myself, for future footballing reasons, for my family. Everything’s worked out fantastically, and I’m just very happy that I made the decision and that everything’s worked out really well.

B/R: Bosnia are being touted as one of the most interesting sides to watch at the World Cup from Europe this summer due to your technical style of play. Johan Cruyff has said in the past that total football may not have emerged from The Netherlands had the country not also played hockey.

As someone who’s lived in Canada where ice hockey is a major sport, I was wondering if you thought there were any similar links or origins behind the type of players and football Bosnia produces?

AB: Hockey is somewhat big in the former Yugoslavian countries along with other sports like handball and other quicker team sports. But it is the mentality we have. We have always played attractive, attacking football. It’s just the country’s mentality really, and there’s always seemed to be the players that fitted that style.

Like you say, we could be one of the more attractive sides to watch, but we also have to adapt our game at times to make sure that we play for results. It’s not about being attacking and creative all the time. Sometimes you have to be smart and tactically wise to play a game the right way, so there has to be a balance of both.

B/R: Given how the 1998 World Cup helped to spur on Croatia, both in football and as a nation in terms of image and tourism, are you and your team-mates viewing Brazil 2014 as a similar opportunity to showcase your country to the world?

AB: We consider every big event as an opportunity. I think we, over the last few years, have made people notice Bosnia a little bit more, just through our accomplishments, different games and qualifying campaign. The World Cup can definitely go a long way to putting Bosnia on the map a bit more for people. That’s just a normal thing.

We know that if we play well we’ll grab more attention, but I think if we just make a good impression and play the game to the best of our ability, then we can be an attractive team for people and add some of that feel-good factor as well.

B/R: How far do you think you could go in the summer?

AB: I think that’s difficult to answer. There’s so little time left, but you never know what the situation is going to be like until you get there. It’s our first major tournament, so we’re going there with nothing to lose and just everything to gain, so we’re going to try and make the most of the whole experience.

You know, if we play the way we know we can, and with our qualities, we can definitely get out of the group, and once you get out of the group it gets very interesting in the knockout stages.

Anything could happen then. We’ll take everything as it comes, but we’ll assess our chances nearer the time as the games come along.

B/R: Are there any opponents you’re most looking forward to facing or would like to come up against?

AB: You know what, I think being part of the whole World Cup is just a huge dream for me. Playing against any team or any country is a big honour and a big task and a big challenge as well, so I’ve got no one in particular.

Argentina are obviously the team to beat in our group, but the games against Iran and Nigeria will also be big tests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtWnq6gy1Rs

B/R: There has been some unrest in Bosnia of late, with street protests back in February. How much do you think that the national team’s World Cup debut could be a unifying force for the country this summer?

AB: We hope it’s going to be a big unifying thing. It’s something we’ve always tried to do, to be a positive influence on our country and our people. You know, politics can sometimes get in the way of peoples’ lives and peoples’ thoughts and make things difficult at times to the point where football can be overshadowed by that.

We just try to stick together, set a good example for a lot of people and hopefully bring our country together and give a few happy times and happy memories.

Read Greg's exclusive Bleacher Report interview with Edin Dzeko on winning another title with Manchester City and his hopes of making a big impact at the 2014 World Cup Brazil.

Follow @gregianjohnson

Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the only nation making their World Cup debut in Brazil this summer yet with Edin Dzeko set to lead their attack, the Dragons will be hoping to make a big impression in their first major international tournament.

I spoke to the Manchester City striker as he prepared to link up with the rest of Safet Susic's squad, fresh from securing his second Premier League winner's medal.

Bleacher Report: What does it mean to you to be your country's all-time record goalscorer in such a historic period for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team?

Edin Dzeko: I feel proud about that fact, but I'm still proud and happy when I know that my goals helped the team to put on the big competition.

Football is a team sport and my goals would not mean anything if we had not qualified for the World Cup in Brazil. Thus, as with my club, I'm happy that my goals can help to secure good results, which is ultimately the most important thing.

B/R: Very early in your career you played as a midfielder while in the past few seasons you have been described as a "super sub" by the English press. What sort of player do you see yourself as? Is scoring goals your only priority or do you like to be recognised as a talented all-round footballer, too?

ED: I constantly say that I'm not a super-substitute, which I confirmed in this season when I won the Premier League in England for Manchester City. Like every player, I like to score goals and even more to win, but I also like to start matches.

I don’t think I scored a goal after entering from the bench this season, which just goes to show how I benefited from playing more often than last season. I can safely say that I've played my best season of football since arriving in England, and I'm happy about it, and even happier because of the double crown that we won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy6HFz484Z0

B/R: You also became Wolfsburg's all-time top-scorer in 2010. The arrival of Zvjezdan Misimovic in your second season is often credited with helping you to become even more prolific in the Bundesliga. Since you won the club's only title together—and you received many individual awards in 2009—how important has the influence of Misimovic and other Bosnian players been in helping you to develop further into one of Europe's most in-demand strikers?

ED: The arrival of Misimovic at Wolfsburg was crucial to me for a number of reasons: Firstly, because I was with experienced players; secondly, because we quickly became friends; and thirdly, because we worked great together in the game.

Actually, that was the most important part of the whole story because Misimovic is an excellent midfielder who had some brilliant seasons in the Bundesliga and truly helped me with assists.

Sometimes it was necessary only to set foot on the pitch to score given his assistance and cooperation from our time at Wolfsburg, which transferred well to the national team. We now understand how each other plays, even with our eyes closed.

B/R: Having scored so many important goals in the last few seasons for Manchester City—and finishing the World Cup qualifiers as the second-highest scorer in Europe—how has success with one of England's top clubs helped you to become an even more effective player for your country at crucial moments?

ED: Just doing my job [laughs]. Goals are my job, and as I said, I am happy when I’m helping my team to achieve a good result. Of course, without the help of the entire team of players it would not be possible to achieve such important goals, so I owe them a huge amount of appreciation.

B/R: You have said the past that Andriy Shevchenko is your favourite player, but who do you look up to as the great Bosnian footballers of the past? Have any of these retired stars been around the current squad to offer advice and support?

ED: With the current generation of players, there are several former aces like Muhamed Konjic or Baljic Elvir, who are members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina coaching team. There is also Sergej Barbarez, a former national captain, who has helped with advice, and even a few other former players.

I am friends with all of them, and their experience is very important to us, considering the fact that they have great experience playing for the national team together in the past.

B/R: Like the France squad that won the 98 World Cup and the Euros in 2000, the Bosnian national team is often presented as a great example of players from different ethnicities and backgrounds working together with trust and respect. What is the foundation behind your spirit to pull others together and do well in good times and bad?

ED: On the field, there are different nationalities. On the ground, we are a team and that's the most important thing. That’s the only way we can secure a good result, and we have shown unity as a national team on several occasions. I hope and believe that our unity can inspire others.

B/R: As Bosnia's first UNICEF ambassador, and a player widely respected for your humanitarian work, how in your opinion can football help to bring people together and ease tensions? Given the recent street protests in Sarajevo in February, what sort of extra meaning will your team's performances carry at the World Cup?

ED: Football unites people. The situation in the country is difficult, but we believe that our qualification for the World Cup, has, for many citizens, helped to bring smiles to their faces and embellish their daily lives. Because of them, and ourselves, we will continue to do our best on the field.

The World Cup will be our contribution to the people who are in need of joy indeed. Regarding humanitarian work, I'm proud of the fact that I'm a UNICEF ambassador, especially because I love working with kids, who are my most honest supporters. Working and socializing with them fulfills me, and I am happy when I have a chance to take time for the kids.

B/R: Finally, what are your personal goals for the World Cup, and what are your future ambitions for Bosnia and Manchester City?

ED: Our wish is to qualify from our group and leave a positive impression. This will be our first World Cup, and we do not have enough experience with big competitions, which can be a handicap.

However, we will give it our best to play our best football ever, and to try and surprise Argentina. My personal target is to finish the summer without injuries and a healthy start to the new Premier League season.

Read Greg's exclusive Bleacher Report interview with Asmir Begovic on the goalkeeper's action-packed season with Stoke City and his thoughts on Bosnia's chances at the 2014 World Cup Brazil.

Follow @gregianjohnson