Bosnia is expected to be a tough opponent for the host nation. Canada is chasing its first ever World Cup victory – and the pressure is palpable.
Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, and the game is all about more than three points. Here, the hosts will finally justify national team manager Jesse Marsch’s optimistic statements about the squad – by making history.
You can follow all the World Cup matches on our Live service.
Read: Mohamed Salah gives green light to new club
Canada is in the rare situation that they go in as favourites in a World Cup match. The Group B match in Toronto is seen as a great opportunity to finally get the first win.
Even a draw would be historic. Canada has lost all six of its previous World Cup matches. They finished last in the group in 1986 – and did the same four years ago in Qatar.
Still, Marsch is evidently full of faith. He himself has called this “the best squad Canada has ever had”.
Fulfilling that promise against Bosnia will not be an easy task.
Bosnia has shown incredible resilience
Bosnia qualified via the UEFA play-offs after falling behind in the semi-finals against Wales. They were also down in the final against Italy. Nevertheless, they won both games on penalties.
Now they are only chasing their second win in a World Cup final. The only one so far came in 2014, when they beat Iran 3-1 in their only World Cup appearance since the country gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1992.
The warm-up matches against North Macedonia and Panama hardly produced impressive results. But in competitive matches, Bosnia have only lost one of their last eleven – with five wins and five draws.
Canada’s strength is lagging behind
The optimism about Canada is first and foremost about defense. Since the team crashed out of the Gold Cup in the quarter-finals last year, they have kept a clean sheet in eight out of ten games.
Striker Promise David believes the defensive stability makes the job easier up front.
“When the whistle blows, the goals must come – not wanting to come, but having to come,” says David.
“We’re not really under any pressure, because we know that our back line can keep a clean sheet. It’s just up to us to score one.
Team news ahead of Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada may have to do without captain Alphonso Davies, who has a hamstring injury. Defender Moïse Bombito is also expected to sit out with a calf injury.
Bosnia will probably have to do without Haris Tabaković (ankle). The experienced striker Edin Džeko is uncertain after he missed training on Tuesday with a shoulder injury.
Predicted starting line-ups
Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, de Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustáquio, Koné, Millar; David, Larin
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Burnić, Gigović, Muharemović, Memić; Čelik, Bašić, Bajraktarević; Mahmić, Demirović, Baždarić
Pre-match stats
- This will be the first meeting between Canada and Bosnia.
- Each of Bosnia’s last six competitive matches has featured goals from both teams.
- Canada has only scored two goals in their last six World Cup games.
- Jonathan David will score his 40th international goal for Canada if he sleeps.
- Edin Džeko scored six goals for Bosnia in qualifying. He has scored in five of his last eight competitive games. Haris Tabaković has scored in three of his last four.
Match expectation
Canada sees this as a winnable game, especially in front of a noisy home crowd. But Bosnia proved to be a tough nut to crack in the UEFA playoffs. They should have enough to get a point.
Tips: Canada 1–1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Read on F7: Thierry Henry names two “surprise teams” that can win the World Cup
