WORLD CUP PREVIEW: ARMENIA – BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Goal.com
09/04/1479357/world-cup-preview-armenia-bosnia-her zegovina
Sept 4 2009
Bottom-of-the-barrel Armenia are set to host Bosnia & Herzegovina in
Group Five action….
Photo GalleryZoomHamlet Mkhitaryan, Armenia (PA)Kick off: Saturday,
September 5, 17:00 CET, Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia
Cellar Dwellars
With just a solitary draw from their first six matches in their World
Cup qualifying group, Armenia’s dreams of progressing to South Africa
were dashed a long time ago.
In fact, in a group that includes the likes of defending European
title holders Spain, bitter rivals Turkey, as well as a burgeoning
Bosnian outfit, and you could say that the Armenian’s chances of
progression were over before they even started.
Vardan Minasyan’s men can take solace though in the fact that their
next three Group Five matches, including the clash against Bosnia
and Herzegovina on Saturday, will be played on home soil.
The Armenians have already faced the Bosnian national side in World
Cup qualifying and were thumped by a 4-1 scoreline in Zenica. Armenia
will be hard pressed to turn the table on their opponents this
coming Saturday but might be comforted in the knowledge that they
scraped their way to a draw in their last WCQ fixture played at the
Republican Stadium.
With nothing left but pride to play for, a victory for the home side
would be shocking indeed but that won’t stop Armenia in trying to
exact a measure of revenge for their earlier defeat to the Bosnians.
Alive And Kicking
Bosnia & Herzegovina are in pole position to snag a play-off spot in
Group Five ahead of Turkey and Belgium. Miroslav Blazeciv’s men sit
second in the qualifying table, six points behind Spain.
However, Bosnia have a four point cushion ahead of Turkey and should
be able consolidate their position when they travel to Yerevan to lock
horns with a lowly Armenia side that sit at the bottom of the table.
Bosnia easily dispatched of the Armenians in their first encounter
in October of last year when Zlatan Muslimovic’s two goals paced the
side to an easy 4-1 victory. Blazevic was pleased with his team’s
performance and sung their praises after the match.
"All credit to the players who never took the foot of the gas pedal
and I am especially pleased we got the fourth goal after Armenia
scored a consolation," he said.
Blazevic will be hoping that his side can duplicate that performance
on Saturday evening but his biggest challenge may be forcing his team
to concentrate solely on the Armenia match without peeking ahead to
the massive clash against Turkey on September 9.
TEAM FORM
Armenia
August 12 vs Moldova (H) LOST 4-1 (Friendly)
April 01 vs Estonia (A) LOST 1-0 (WCQ)
March 28 vs Estonia (H) DREW 2-2 (WCQ)
February 11 vs Latvia (A) DREW 0-0 (Friendly)
October 15 vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (A) LOST 4-1 (WCQ)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
August 12 vs Iran (H) LOST 3-2 (Friendly)
June 09 vs Oman (H) WON 2-1 (Friendly)
June 01 vs Uzbekistan (A) DREW 0-0 (Friendly)
April 01 vs Belgium (H) WON 2-1 (WCQ)
March 28 vs Belgium (A) WON 4-2 (WCQ)
TEAM NEWS
Armenia
Minasyan will have a relatively healthy squad to choose from ahead
of Saturday’s fixture.
Probable starting XI- Kasparov- Hovsepyan, Minasyan, Arzumanjan,
Pachajyan- Lazarian, Arman Karamyan, Arakelyan, Artavazd Karamyan-
Mkhitaryan, Manucharyan
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic returned to the national team fold
against Iran on August 12 after last term’s injury trouble. He should
make an appearance against Armenia and will probably earn a starting
berth in Blazevic’s starting lineup. Misimovic will miss the match
for picking up one yellow card too many.
Probable starting XI- Supic- Jahic, Spahic, Nadarevic, Salihovic-
Muratovic, Rahimic, Ibricic, Pjanic- Dzeko, Ibisevic
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sargis Hovsepyan (Armenia)
The Estonia national team captain is the all time leader in caps
for his country with over 100 appearances to his name. The former
Zenit St. Petersburg defender will have to be sharp to deal with the
attacking threat of Dzeko and Ibisevic.
Edin Dzeko (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
The Wolfsburg striker was in the news all summer after he looked like
a lock to move to AC Milan but the Bundesliga champions put their
foot down and blocked the move. Dzeko has seven goals in qualifying
so far and should be able to add to that tally against a porous
Armenian backline.