While it's true that I let graduate school keep me from blogging as much as I'd like, its takes more than research papers and comprehensive reading courses to keep me from following the beautiful a whole lot more than I can honestly justify. And being that today begins a five-day stretch of official FIFA international dates, and that means World Cup qualifiers all over the globe. The USA has a home match against Costa Rica tonight, but the match that matters as far as this blog is Bosnia's home leg versus Greece.
This is a big match--Bosnia and Greece are tied at the top of Group Seven with 10 points apiece, with Bosnia holding the tie-breaker right now on goal differential (+13 for Bosnia to +4 for Greece; a very comfortable cushion at this point). The first leg, in Greece, was played on October 12 last fall, and ended in a 0-0 draw. That's a crucial road point; if Bosnia can now win their home leg in the series that could potentially decide first place in the group, qualifying Bosnia for the World Cup outright and sparing them the second-place playoff which has led to so much heartbreak in recent World Cup and Euro Cup qualifying campaigns.
If Bosnia wins today, the battle is hardly over--Bosnia is no footballing giant, and can't afford to take any opponent for granted. Greece has already won their away leg versus Slovakia, the country nipping at the co-leaders' heels with 7 points and one Bosnia has yet to face in this campaign. And over half of that impressive goal differential was due to an 8-1 thrashing of poor Liechtenstein, whom Greece have yet to face. Still, if they manage 3 points tonight the prospect of seeing Bosnia in an international tournament for the first time will be much brighter.
In Bosnia, a war was fought between civic nationalism and individual liberty versus ethnic nationalism and collectivism. Bosnia's struggle was, and is, America's struggle. Dedicated to the struggle of all of Bosnia's peoples--Bosniak, Croat, Serb, and others--to find a common heritage and a common identity.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Friday, March 22, 2013
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Bosnia Still in Running for 2012 Euro Cup
Bosnia came very close to upsetting France at home and qualifying for the cup outright; as it is, they are in the play-offs. Not as a seeded team, but while the seeded teams all certainly present real challenges, none of them are teams Bosnia should be intimidated by (I think that Portugal are a shadow of their former self right now, despite still having some great individual talent, including Cristiano Ronaldo, obviously).
Seedings confirmed for EURO play-off draw
The draw will be later today; I will update this post once I see the results.
UPDATE: Bosnia will play Portugal in the two-leg playoffs, to be played in November.
Seedings confirmed for EURO play-off draw
The draw will be later today; I will update this post once I see the results.
UPDATE: Bosnia will play Portugal in the two-leg playoffs, to be played in November.
Friday, April 01, 2011
Bosnia Banned from FIFA and UEFA
From ESPN.com:
Bosnia federation banned by FIFA, UEFA
The article is short, and sadly not surprising considering the state of other national institutions in Bosnia; the Bosnian Serb leadership of the FA refuses to give up autonomy, and therefore is hobbling the national FA. And the result is paralysis and an inability to participate internationally as a nation. The subject in this case is soccer, but the metaphor applies to the failure of the Dayton agreement in general.
Bosnia federation banned by FIFA, UEFA
The article is short, and sadly not surprising considering the state of other national institutions in Bosnia; the Bosnian Serb leadership of the FA refuses to give up autonomy, and therefore is hobbling the national FA. And the result is paralysis and an inability to participate internationally as a nation. The subject in this case is soccer, but the metaphor applies to the failure of the Dayton agreement in general.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Divided Bosnian FA In Trouble
It's amazing the Bosnian national team has performed as well as it has in recent years (just missing out on Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010) considering how dysfunctional it is at the head.
Bosnia Risks Exclusion From FIFA, UEFA Competitions
Bosnia Risks Exclusion From FIFA, UEFA Competitions
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Bosnia Vs. Portugal, Leg 2
A spot in the World Cup is on the line as Portugal brings it's 1-0 first-leg lead to Zenica for the final game of the home-and-home aggregate tie:
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Portugal
Sorry I did not post the results of the first leg; I was out of town Saturday (at a soccer tournament, appropriately enough) without internet access.
Portugal will be without Cristiano Ronaldo, and possibly without Deco and Bruno Alves; Bosnia without Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic. This could be a test of which team has more quality on the bench. Or it could be a test of how well Portugal deals with what is by all accounts a sub-standard pitch.
This is a tough match for me, as my son adores Portugal and would scoff at me for cheering against them; that said--best of luck to Bosnia. No country could use an appearance at the World Cup more.
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Portugal
Sorry I did not post the results of the first leg; I was out of town Saturday (at a soccer tournament, appropriately enough) without internet access.
Portugal will be without Cristiano Ronaldo, and possibly without Deco and Bruno Alves; Bosnia without Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic. This could be a test of which team has more quality on the bench. Or it could be a test of how well Portugal deals with what is by all accounts a sub-standard pitch.
This is a tough match for me, as my son adores Portugal and would scoff at me for cheering against them; that said--best of luck to Bosnia. No country could use an appearance at the World Cup more.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
World Cup Qualifying Update and a Couple of Recommendations
A bit of a grab bag today. I was out of town at a youth soccer tournament (our son's team made the final only to lose 2-0; a good result for a new team still trying to gel as a unit) and yesterday I was simply too tired to jump back into the groove. I plan to resume the book review this week.
Anyway, speaking of soccer, the Bosnian national team clinched a spot in UEFA second-round qualifying with a 2-0 win over Estonia in Tallinn. This is a great achievement for this team, and we should soon know who their competition will be in that final round. A World Cup appearance could be a real boost to a shared sense of Bosnian identity.
As long-time readers of this blog know, I have a bad habit of periodically realizing that I've been visiting another Bosnia-related blog for months or even years without ever remembering to add it to my Blogroll. So today, allow me to partially atone for yet another oversight by giving a big tip of the hat to Tuzla Daily Photo, a fantastic photoblog which has been documenting daily life in Tuzla for over three years now. Word is that at least one of the two authors is getting discouraged with low traffic and is considering throwing in the towel; this blog is a fantastic resource documenting the day-to-day realities of life away from the headlines in post-war Bosnia, and it would be a shame if it were to go into disuse. Please give them some more traffic (and then continue to do so) so we don't lose yet another wonderful blog.
Finally--and I hate to end on a somewhat pessimistic note--anyone with an interest in Bosnia and its continued viability needs to read Marko Attila Hoare's sobering piece Bosnia: Weighing the Options. It's grim reading, but given that he may very well be correct that time is running out, this may be the bracing splash of cold water some policy makers need to hear.
Anyway, speaking of soccer, the Bosnian national team clinched a spot in UEFA second-round qualifying with a 2-0 win over Estonia in Tallinn. This is a great achievement for this team, and we should soon know who their competition will be in that final round. A World Cup appearance could be a real boost to a shared sense of Bosnian identity.
As long-time readers of this blog know, I have a bad habit of periodically realizing that I've been visiting another Bosnia-related blog for months or even years without ever remembering to add it to my Blogroll. So today, allow me to partially atone for yet another oversight by giving a big tip of the hat to Tuzla Daily Photo, a fantastic photoblog which has been documenting daily life in Tuzla for over three years now. Word is that at least one of the two authors is getting discouraged with low traffic and is considering throwing in the towel; this blog is a fantastic resource documenting the day-to-day realities of life away from the headlines in post-war Bosnia, and it would be a shame if it were to go into disuse. Please give them some more traffic (and then continue to do so) so we don't lose yet another wonderful blog.
Finally--and I hate to end on a somewhat pessimistic note--anyone with an interest in Bosnia and its continued viability needs to read Marko Attila Hoare's sobering piece Bosnia: Weighing the Options. It's grim reading, but given that he may very well be correct that time is running out, this may be the bracing splash of cold water some policy makers need to hear.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Bosnia Battles to Tie With Turkey: World Cup Qualification Second Round a Real Possibility
Thanks to a game-tying goal from Sejad Salihovic, Bosnia was able to maintain their 4-point lead over Turkey to hold on to second place in Group 5 World Cup qualifying.
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 - 1 Turkey
As noted in the article, a win at Estonia would seal the deal as far as making it to second-round qualifying.
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 - 1 Turkey
As noted in the article, a win at Estonia would seal the deal as far as making it to second-round qualifying.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Road Win Improves Bosnia's Chance at World Cup Qualification
Bosnia's chances of playing in next year's World Cup in South Africa are even better than they were, as the national team solidified it's second-place standing in Group 5 with a 2-0 win on the road.
Armenia 0 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia is not out of the woods yet--they have three games left, including one each against Spain and Turkey. But those are both home games, and sandwiched in between is a road game at Estonia. Bosnia's chances of making the next round of qualification are very good right now. In fact, Bosnia is in striking distance of group leaders Spain, should they stumble.
Bosnia is at Turkey Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Armenia 0 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia is not out of the woods yet--they have three games left, including one each against Spain and Turkey. But those are both home games, and sandwiched in between is a road game at Estonia. Bosnia's chances of making the next round of qualification are very good right now. In fact, Bosnia is in striking distance of group leaders Spain, should they stumble.
Bosnia is at Turkey Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Bosnian National Team Solidifies Second Place in World Cup Qualifying
Five days after notching a crucial road win against a soccer team with World Cup pedigree, they pulled off a repeat performance in Sarajevo:
Bosnia Wins Home-and-Home Series Vs. Belgium
This result extended their second-place lead in Group 5 of UEFA group stage World Cup qualifying to four points. Third-place Turkey lost their qualifier on the same day.
However, Bosnia's lead is slim. Turkey's loss was to Group 5 leader--and 2008 Euro Cup champions--Spain; their second and final match against the reigning European champions. Bosnia still has to play Spain once more, albeit for the home leg in Sarajevo.
Fortunately, Bosnia has one each of their games versus Estonia and Armenia yet to play; even better, those are their only road games remaining. With their remaining home legs against Spain and, yes, Turkey, their right to play in the final round of World Cup qualifying lies in their own hands. Bosnia are in the odd position of regarding their final two road games as must-wins, while hoping for the best in their final home legs.
Bosnia's next World Cup qualifier is on the road versus Armenia, on August 5. Stay tuned!
Bosnia Wins Home-and-Home Series Vs. Belgium
This result extended their second-place lead in Group 5 of UEFA group stage World Cup qualifying to four points. Third-place Turkey lost their qualifier on the same day.
However, Bosnia's lead is slim. Turkey's loss was to Group 5 leader--and 2008 Euro Cup champions--Spain; their second and final match against the reigning European champions. Bosnia still has to play Spain once more, albeit for the home leg in Sarajevo.
Fortunately, Bosnia has one each of their games versus Estonia and Armenia yet to play; even better, those are their only road games remaining. With their remaining home legs against Spain and, yes, Turkey, their right to play in the final round of World Cup qualifying lies in their own hands. Bosnia are in the odd position of regarding their final two road games as must-wins, while hoping for the best in their final home legs.
Bosnia's next World Cup qualifier is on the road versus Armenia, on August 5. Stay tuned!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Bosniak-American Fan Favorite at Nebraska

Adi Kunalic and his coworkers show up for another day at the office.*
I apologize for my infrequent posting as of late--we hosted family for the past week or so, and life is just now getting back to normal. I promise to return to substantive posting in the very near future.
In the meantime, a young Bosniak who came to America as a young boy in 1992 has found success in one of the most veritible and thoroughly American institutions our great land has to offer--college football. What's more, he has done so at my alma mater, home of the only football team I really care about (longtime readers of this blog might be aware that I'm something of soccer fanatic as well).
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Adi Kunalic, placekicker for the once-mighty/now-rebuilding University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Young Adi has been quite successful at this important, highly specialized position, and the Husker faithful have taken notice. Here's a blog post including a typical reaction from early in the season.
Early plaudits like that quickly became the norm as the season progressed; young Adi now has his own fan group on Facebook, and a new tradition has developed at Memorial Stadium--thousands of Nebraska fans now hold up a shoe whenever Adi is lining up to kick.
Not bad for a sophomore kicker. We Husker fans are glad to have him, and while this may not be the most profound or informative post I've ever put up on this website, a little feel-good news now and then can't hurt. The circumstances that drove the Kunalic family to flee Bosnia for America could not have been more grim; at least their new home seems to have welcomed them.
*That's Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska--where the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers hold the NCAA record for most consecutive sellouts. I can't get the picture centered properly--the original picture is quite impressive, but the template cuts off part of the right side, making it seem crowded and off-centered.
Labels:
Adi Kunalic,
Bosnia,
Bosniak,
Football,
Nebraska
Monday, March 26, 2007
Bosnian National Team Scores Road Win In Euro Qualifier
Not all the news from Bosnia is gloomy or negative as of late--the faltering campaign to qualify for Euro 2008 just got a boost this weekend with a 2-1 victory on the road at Norway:
Bosnian Team Snatches All Three Points in Norway
My good friends the "BH Fanaticos" were in full-on Ultra/Hooligan form, forcing a 37 minute game delay by bombarding the field with flares (slightly injuring Bosnian keeper Adnan Guso, who managed to go on and play a very good game), but fortunately no one was hurt. I'll forgive their over-zealousness, given that enthusiasm for Bosnia's national team is something of a new phenomena. Hopefully, this encouraging display of attractive, positive football by a young team with lots of potential might encourage some non-Muslim Bosnians to at least consider supporting the national team rather than Serbia or Croatia.
Bosnian Team Snatches All Three Points in Norway
My good friends the "BH Fanaticos" were in full-on Ultra/Hooligan form, forcing a 37 minute game delay by bombarding the field with flares (slightly injuring Bosnian keeper Adnan Guso, who managed to go on and play a very good game), but fortunately no one was hurt. I'll forgive their over-zealousness, given that enthusiasm for Bosnia's national team is something of a new phenomena. Hopefully, this encouraging display of attractive, positive football by a young team with lots of potential might encourage some non-Muslim Bosnians to at least consider supporting the national team rather than Serbia or Croatia.
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