Several matches of almost indescribable importance take place across Europe on Wednesday as qualification for South Africa 2010 nears its climax and none more so than in Zenica where Bosnia host Turkey.
A member of Fifa since just 1996, Bosnia have made massive strides in international football in a little over a decade and now have a real chance of contesting their first major finals next summer. They performed admirably in qualification for Germany 2006 before ultimately coming up short but this group of talented players, guided by coach Miroslav Blažević, have a terrific opportunity to grace the biggest stage of all and I think they’ll go a long way to securing a playoff spot with at least a point.
Spain, already assured of top spot in Group 5, have dominated this section but Bosnia have established themselves as one of the emerging forces in Europe with a string of fine performances and five wins from seven matches has put them in pole position for the runners-up spot.
13 goals in three home games to date has yielded maximum points for Bosnia and while Turkey will be a different proposition to the likes of Estonia and Armenia, Bosnia proved they could compete with the best when narrowly beaten by the European Champions 1-0 in Murcia. Bosnia have already completed the double over a talented Belgium side and will enter the match full of confidence following a 2-0 win in Yerevan on Saturday.
Much of Bosnia’s good play stems from Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, he has seven goals to his name already in Group 5, but they are far from a one-man outfit and his club teammate Zvjezdan Misimović is also one to keep an eye on. The talented midfielder grabbed a hat-trick in the 7-0 demolition of Estonia and the pair will both be hoping to make an impact for the Bundesliga side in the Champions League over the coming months.
Turkey got the better of the contest when these two met in Istanbul back in October 2008 but the visitors lead at halftime that day through Dzeko and will have nothing to fear now back on home soil. Bosnia have improved since then too and I can’t believe that the away side have been installed as favourites with Bet 365 to steal all three points.
The one concern on Wednesday evening is that a draw would clearly suit Bosnia and that is often a difficult mentality to shrug off in games of such importance. That said, the majority of their starting line up have experience in some of the top leagues across Europe and I’m more than happy to lay Turkey at around the 2.75 mark. The Euro 2008 semi-finalists often surprise but his looks like a good opportunity to oppose them at the prices on offer and the bet is a strong one.
3pts Lay Turkey (vs. Bosnia) @ 2.75 (Betfair)