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Edin Džeko helps Bosnia and Herzegovina make next step to World Cup qualification
The dream of qualifying for this year’s World Cup is still very much alive for Edin Džeko and Nikola Katić. A 4-2 victory on penalties over Wales on Thursday (26/3) means that Bosnia and Herzegovina have booked their place in the qualification play-off final. The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Džeko playing a key role. The day before, Mika Wallentowitz celebrated making his debut for the Germany U19 side in a 2-2 draw with Sweden.
It took a valiant effort for the visiting side to overcome their Welsh hosts, who had taken the lead in the 51st minute through Dan James. Bosnia and Herzegovina, with both Džeko and Katić in the starting line-up, spent a long part of the game trailing and had to push hard until the very end. Shortly before full time, Džeko rose highest and headed home the equaliser from a corner to send the game to extra time (86’).
No goals in extra time meant the result would be decided by a penalty shootout. Harry Wilson and Mark Harris scored Wales’ first two penalties, however Brennan Johnson couldn’t keep his effort down and Neco Williams saw his saved by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Ermedin Demirović missed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s opening penalty, but Haris Tabaković, Ivan Bašić, Amir Hadžiahmetović and Kerim Alajbegović all stepped up to score theirs, setting up a clash in the final with Italy (31/3). Nikola Katić played the full match, while Edin Džeko was substituted at the start of extra time but still received a yellow card on the bench in the 111th minute.
Wallentowitz makes U19 debut
Mika Wallentowitz appeared for the Germany U19 side for the first time. Christian Wörns’ side faced Sweden in a European Championship qualifier in Dreieich, with the match ending 2-2. Wallentowitz came on in the 72nd minute for Adin Ličina. Germany’s goals were scored by Otto Stange (36’) and Montrell Culbreath (80’), while Sweden’s goals came from Adrian Lahdo (68’) and Yannick Geiger (90+4’). Germany are set to take on Greece on Saturday (28/3) in the second of three matches during the international break.
