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USMNT confirms Bosnia & Herzegovina friendly in August

USMNT Starting 11

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

Jurgen Klinsmann’s busy summer is officially finishing in Europe.

U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday that the United States Men’s National Team will be playing a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarejevo on August 14. It will be the first ever meeting between the two nations.

The announcement confirms the original news reports in Bosnia, which began to trickle out in late May that their football federation had agreed to play the U.S. in the middle of August. The match-day is the lone date ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers for both national teams in early September.

Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently ranked 15th in the FIFA World rankings and currently lead their qualifying group, earning 16 points from six games (five wins and one draw). Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic, and former Saint Louis Billiken Vedad Ibisevic are all part of the squad.

The match will wrap up one of the busiest summers in recent U.S. soccer history. From late May through the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT will feature anywhere from 10 to 13 times, depending how far they make it in the Gold Cup. All of the matches should give Klinsmann a chance to really learn about his squad and get closer to his final 23 for Brazil, should the USMNT secure qualification.

Playing on the road against nations in UEFA, the USMNT under Klinsmann has two wins, two losses, and one draw. The last match played in Europe was the 2-2 draw against Russia last November in Moscow. Overall against UEFA competition, the USMNT under Klinsmann is 4-3-1, the most recent match being the 4-3 victory over Germany on June 2.

What do you make of this news? Do you see the U.S. being able to defeat Bosnia?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. America? haha they have no chance to win we have a team who are getting better and better each year !! So come on people forget it !!

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  2. Bosanciii na estradi nemoj te se lagat. kad dodjete u bosnu samo serete o americi. Ja ti se kunem jebat ce im bhf mater na hasetu

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  3. Safet Susic(Bosnia’s manager) won’t play a “B” team. He’s always trying to play friendlies around his normal starting 11 as a warm-up for world cup qualifiers. You’ll see maybe one or two young talents starting, and he’ll probably bring in quite a few the second half, but overall he will want to stay with his main core especially since they’re playing at home. And as for the USMNT line-up, it’s a shot in the dark. Jurgen Klinsmann is the exact opposite when it comes to keeping a certain group of players in at all times. He loves giving everyone a chance to show out. Should be very interesting to see how each team deals with one another.

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  4. All tgese comments are making me throw up. First im a bosnian and i live in the US. I came to bosnia to watched usa vs bosnia. USA have good players and they have been doing great last couple games. They are in the momentum. Altidore is back to scoring goals which he hasnt for awhile untill the germany game and befoe that. Bosnia have much more talented team. Bosnia have one of the best forwards in the world. They have great attacking team who could score against any team in the world. Mexico, Portugal, Brazil, Spain. We were so close from being the only team in history to beat greece 3-0. But we messed around at the end like we always do and its stupid and get scored on. Last 15minutes arent good for bosnia thats why need a goal or two before 75th and we can do that. USA players are in shapr they played in gold cup and others players in cub same with bosnia. Both teams will have at least 9 or 10 starting 11 players for sure. Its gonna be a good game.

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  5. Nobody mentioned actually that among the whole Eruopean qualifiying groups and teams, which is certainly the strongest (besize South America’s) competition, Bosnia is the most efficient national team. These guys scored 23 goals and let up only 3 times.

    Respect!

    And I will be at the place supporting them to a new win 😉 no hard feelings 🙂

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  6. Your niggers will not be seen. And bosnian serbs? Ha Germany and Italy. Italy have never beat us and our coach worked Germany back in the day. Your lucky we are not together

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    • So glad the Bosnians I am friends with aren’t crazy racists. I look forward to some good natured banter as my buddies will surely give me a hard time if BiH beats USMNT. But if we win I am sure they won’t mention the color of the footballer who scores. It is meaningless.

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  7. USA 3 Bosnian Serbs 1

    USA is on the come up…did it to Italy, Did it to Germany…small balkan country stands no chance!

    “we are going to brazil”

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    • USA national ream is worth 25 million, Bosnian team is worth 99 million. EDIN DZEKO is worth more than the whole USMNT

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  8. All I can say your lucky we are not Yugoslavia. I hate when bosnians say you will cheer for both. Pick a side in your life. I live in Bosnia and I can’t stand you neutral people. Bosnia is what it is cause of its twelfth man.

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  9. Bosnia will smash USMNT. The gold cup is not even a challenge, the only good team in gold cup is Mexico. It’s so easy to qualify for world cup if you are USA. there is only 6 teams and one group. In Europe there is 53 teams qualifying for world cup. German midfielder Mesut Ozil said: Germany should be scared to play Bosnia. Soccer is a joke in the USA, The Americans should stick to football. They try to be good in everything, but it’s not working out. Leave the sport to the soccer GODS of Europe and South America.

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  10. I just want to see fast pacedand open game which these two teams should provide. I want to see a good footbal thats all.

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  11. We will win.. Igramo u sarajevu.. Bosnia does not lose in its capital. Especially with our coach that could put that kraut klinsman in his pocket.

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  12. Bosnia are definitely favored, away or at home. I’m American, but I’ve been watching that side play for quite a while since I’m of Bosnian descent. In fact, the only advantage we may have over the Bosnian team right now is physical readiness. I love our team and Klinsmann was one of my favorite players growing up, but we need to be realistic here.

    Since you said you don’t know a lot about the Bosnian team, here is a breakdown:

    – The Bosnian goalie is Asmir Begovic. He was ranked as a top 3 keeper in the EPL last year, along with Joe Hart and Petr Cech.

    – Then Bosnia have Miralem Pjanic, a brilliant midfielder that currently plays for Roma, but has been linked with the likes of Barca, Chelsea, and Tottenham. That kid never loses the damn ball.

    – Bosnia also have a couple of strong performers from the Bundesliga, namely Vedad Ibisevic from VFB Stuttgart and Sejad Salihovic from Hoffenheim. Ibisevic is a work horse. Salihovic is one of the best free kick takers on the planet.

    – Their captain, Emir Spahic, also just transferred to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and is referred to as “The Tank” by the local.

    – Misimovic had an illustrious career in the Bundesliga and remains very potent in the midfield. He currently holds the record for most assists in a Bundesliga season. That was the same year that he won the title with VFL Wolsburg and his teammate was …

    – Edin Dzeko. Edin Dzeko is a beast all around and a top striker. Even though he didn’t get consistent playing time at Manchester City while Mancini was coach, he still ended up being their top striker this last season, ahead of both Aguero and Tevez. I think his market value is also higher than that of our entire team.

    In summary, I don’t think we would have much of a chance against this team in a competitive match. A friendly might be different. The only two players we have that compare with their talent are Dempsey and Donovan, who are both getting up there in age.

    Just my two cents.

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  13. Im going in Bosnia on August 10 so im watching this game live in Sarajevo. Hope its going to br good game . Go both teams!!!!!!

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    • Why? This isn’t just for giggles and laughs. It will be one of the few times JK can get the guys together and in rhythm before the 9/13 qualifiers. Perhaps even another measuring stick to see how we measure up against the WC field next year. This is a friendly, yes – but JK uses these for serious evaluations as well.

      Perhaps these guys you named should be there but for me that’s only if they had monster GC and are seriously pushing for A team spots OR if we have injury issues and these are the guys to play the fall WCQ games for us.

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      • We need to see the reserves and give experience to other players, plus, we never got 45 minutes out of Boyd, and some players aren’t going to the Gold Cup. Gatt and Mix doing well the Viking league, and they need develop understanding with Klinsmann’s system and other players.

  14. These are the types of teams the US needs to play and play well stylistically. We know how the team will do against the world powers. The next step in the evolution of this side is to take the game to smaller European, South American (not named Brazil, Argentina, or Uruguay), and African teams.

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    • And Asia. Japan and North Korea are great sides for us to be playing. I could see those friendlies (plus Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay) going over quite well in Seattle.

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  15. If both teams field A team rosters this would be a good bell weather for US prospect at the world cup. To get out the group stage you have to be able to beat the above average non-elite level teams as the groups usually are 1 elite team 2 good above average teams and 1 weaker team. Bosnia is a perfect example of that kind of team, Good but not great. I’d like to think the United states is a similar type team.

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  16. Bosnia are arguably the strongest side from the former Yugoslavia now, which is amazing if you have followed those countries’ soccer teams over the last 20 years.

    Related – Damn Yugoslavia would be strong soccer-wise if the country had held together.

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      • Only if they had a dumb nationalist manager. Bosnia is like a little Yugoslavia because they have players and coaches of various ethnicities on the current team. Slovenia has the most diverse team of the yugo bunch, half their players are of Bosnian descent(Croats, Serbs, Bosnjaks) and they have no infighting.

      • In his parenthetical, Hasko was referencing Bosnian Muslims, who are often called Bosniaks (also transliterated as Bosnjaks) to distinguish them from others (ethnic Croats and Serbs) who were born in Bosnia.

      • True, Hassko, but that region had a surplus of dumb nationalistic football types. They’d probably have to hire a foreigner.

  17. As a fan I like it, but it’s not exactly an ideal time to step away from clubs. It’s on the FIFA calendar, so why not.

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    • agreed. I’d be surprised to see this be an A side, which is a shame. this would be a great test for whomever is being projected as the top 23 at that time.

      Also, as an aside, if Chandler turns this call down, Lichaj better get some love.

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  18. great match up for our team. At Bosnia should be a more than fair opponent and close by all the bundesliga and uefa based players… i hope to see a strong roster and another victory on European soil!

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  19. I have to admit, I know very little about Bosnia as a footballing country. How do they fare in UEFA? On the surface it doesn’t seem like it would be much of a test, certainly a match we would be expected to win. Maybe a “get some of the young guys some experience” opportunity?

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    • They are leading their qualifying group in Europe, no small feat. This Bosnian team has a bunch of talent and should make the World Cup and have a chance to do very well.

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      • Greece are only 3 points behind Bosnia and they have a much easier run-in so Bosnia may still miss out on the WC.

    • They nearly made the last WC. A little team called Portugal ended up beating them in a playoff for one of the remaining spots.

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      • Portugal also beat Bosnia in the playoffs for Euro 2012. But this year seems to be their best team ever.

        I don’t put much stock in the FIFA rankings, but ELO has them at 21 in the world, while the US is 23. So looks to be a very competitive match.

        The other thing to note is the ties that some of the players have: As mentioned in the post, the Bosnian midfielder Pjanic plays at Roma with Michael Bradley. Also, the Bosnian player Sejad Salihović is captain of Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams’ 1899 Hoffenheim side.

      • Lol it was not a little team but a team that feature the likes of CR Ronaldo,Nani,Coentrao,Alves if those names mean anything for you which i guess they don’t as you are saying little team that features one of the best player in the world CRISTIANO RONALDO

    • Correct, you don’t know much about Bosnia. Their FIFA ranking is 15. Those rankings are far from perfect, but they are definitely a favorite to beat us if they’re at home. In the US, we’d probably be the favorite.

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      • I like that you felt you had to clarify a statement I made about myself. Good thing I have you as an authority on me to lend some credibility to my statements.

      • You are correct those ranking are far off and Bosnia should be in first 10 on the world as for home support i doubt that you would be favorite in USA even as if you google Bosnia soccer fans you will see that we did have over 30000 bosnian fans in soldier field stadium in Chicago when we played Mexico in friendly game last year

      • FIFA rankings are self-serving to UEFA. A multiplier for points is the confed ranking. You can play lower ranked Eurp opponents, get a result and get more points than if you went and played US or Mexico.

        Bos.-Her, is, nonetheless, a good team. Not among the top teams in UEFA, probably in the second tier. Hardworking with good players, one or two stars, but a lot of workhorses. It is a team the US needs to learn how to beat., these are the teams you meet in your group stage or in the round of 16. We need to play more of these teams and teams from Africa, if we are ever to get into the quarters or more in the WC

    • You are right, Based on your comments you know absolutely nothing about Bosnia Herzegovinas team if you think the USA could roll out a B team against them on the road and be favoured to come up with an easy win

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      • Sure, but then he went on to say “certainly a match we would be expected to win.” So that kind of invites some criticism when you say you don’t know about them but then forecast what a match against them should look like.

    • I am a huge Bosnian and USA fan a well. (I live in the US). Bosnia has a stronger squad with more depth. Bosnia has a better goalie, offence, midfield, and even better defense. (which is their weakest link) Their coach is very experienced and disciplined.

      However, knowing the Bosnian mentally and the coaches I don’t think they will take this game seriously. Bosnia too will experiment with their own bench players and youth players. They do this every single friendly game! They’ll do 9 substitutions. The result of this game has no real meaning to them. Their biggest concern will be not to get any injuries, so I don’t think we will see them play very hard.

      On top of that, all Bosnian players are on vacation pretty much. They are not in their top shape right now.

      If this game would have been more competitive in nature, Bosnia would dominate most of the game and most likely end up winning it.

      Since its a friendly during the summer, I’d say the US has a good chance of winning.

      But we can’t be certain of anything. That’s the whole beauty of it.

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    • Bro, How are you gonna say Bosnia is a team where you play the young players?! They are ranked 14 in the world currently, meaning they are ranked better then England, France, and UNITED STATES. It will not be an easy game, do not be so cocky. They are a VERY talented team

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    • Well Brett, as you said you know very little about Bosnian soccer tradition..the whole region of former Yugoslavia was always ‘producing” great football (soccer) teams and players! Currently Bosnian team is on its way to qualify for World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer! One more win and they will be playing there! Although this is a friendly game USA team is not going to have easy job. Not at all! Realistically Bosnia has better team at this point.

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