Sports Mole previews Monday’s friendly clash between England and Bosnia-Herzegovina, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In their first of two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up friendlies, England welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to Newcastle United’s St James’ Park base on Monday evening.
While the Three Lions are ramping up their preparations for a latest bid for international stardom, the visitors to the North East will not be present at this year’s continental gathering.
Match preview
© Reuters
Regarded as one of the favourites to go all the way in Germany this summer and end 58 years of hurt – at least on the men’s side of the game – the gargantuan pressure on England’s shoulders could hardly be greater as they endeavour to emulate their female counterparts.
Two years on from the women’s team conquering the continent at Euro 2022, Gareth Southgate‘s troops have the intention of righting their Wembley wrongs, where Italy-inflicted penalty-shootout heartache forced them to accept the silver medal on their own patch in 2021.
Unsurprisingly navigating their Euro 2024 qualifying section without suffering a single defeat, England pit their wits against Serbia, Slovenia and Euro 2020 semi-final foes Denmark in the group stage later this month; their quest for glory begins against the former on June 16.
Before checking into their German hotel, friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland (June 7) at least offer Southgate’s men the chance to arrive at Euro 2024 with at least one win for the calendar year to shout about, having flattered to deceive in March’s exhibition double-header.
After Real Madrid-bound teenager Endrick propelled Brazil to a 1-0 Wembley win, it took a last-gasp Jude Bellingham intervention to rescue a 2-2 draw with Belgium for Southgate, whose future naturally remains a hot-button topic amid suggestions that Manchester United want to tempt him away from the national team.
© Reuters
While England booked their ticket to the Euros without encountering many obstacles, Bosnia will not be among the teams trying to prevent football from coming home, having failed to make the most of their playoff golden ticket after finishing second-from-bottom in Group J.
Only three of the Dragons’ 10 qualification matches ended in victory – and two were against global whipping boys Liechtenstein – but their Nations League performance still earned them a playoff semi-final date with Ukraine, who conceded first on March 21 from a Mykola Matviyenko own goal.
However, as the clock ticked over into the last five minutes of normal time, Artem Dovbyk and Roman Yaremchuk‘s quickfire strikes completed a terrific Ukraine turnaround, meaning that Bosnia are still waiting for their first Euros appearance as an independent nation.
Participants at the 2014 World Cup – their sole major tournament since the breakup of Yugoslavia – Bosnia arrive at St James’ Park on a dismal four-match losing sequence and must also face reigning European champions Italy on June 9 before beginning preparations for life in League A of the Nations League.
Furthermore, the Dragons have to go back to June 2018 for the last time that they won a friendly game away from home – failing to score in each of their last four and losing three on the bounce – statistics which serve as another reason for pessimism before a first-ever showdown with England.
England friendly form:
England form (all competitions):
Bosnia-Herzegovina form (all competitions):
Team News
© Reuters
Owing to his participation in the Champions League final, Real Madrid hotshot Bellingham will play no part in England’s first match of the month, and the same also goes for Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, whom Southgate has admitted is a “long shot” for the Euros.
Shaw’s Red Devils teammate Harry Maguire should also be spared due to his muscular concern, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is expected to be the man to benefit from the England stalwart’s fitness troubles, one of a few Eagles hoping to play their way into the manager’s good books.
Eberechi Eze and the uncapped Adam Wharton are also included in that troupe, as both men have benefitted from the notable snubs of Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips to make Southgate’s 33-man preliminary squad, which must be cut down to a maximum of 26 before June 7.
Of course, all-time top scorer Harry Kane would normally be the first name on the teamsheet, but on account of his recent back problem, Ollie Watkins may spearhead the charge this time instead.
Meanwhile, Bosnia boss Sergej Barbarez – taking charge of his first game for the national team – has called up a plethora of uncapped troops, but there is still a place in the ranks for captain Edin Dzeko, the all-time leading appearance maker and record scorer for his nation.
The 38-year-old is primed to win cap number 153 for the national team on Monday, but Bosnia have lost ex-Arsenal and current Atalanta BC defender Sead Kolasinac to injury.
In addition, 34-year-old Ermin Bicakcic – the most experienced defender in the visitors’ ranks – missed the final weekend of the 2. Bundesliga season with Eintracht Braunschweig due to an ankle concern and should not be seen at St James’ Park either.
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Gallagher; Saka, Watkins, Foden
Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Ahmedhodzic, Hadzikadunic, Mujakic; Gazibegovic, Krunic, Tahirovic, Omerovic; Hajradinovic; Demirovic, Dzeko
We say: England 3-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Even though Southgate may tinker with his England team both before and during Monday’s friendly, the incentive for fringe players to stake a Euro 2024 claim is enough motivation to see off an out-of-sorts Bosnia side.
Any new manager bounce that the visitors experience under Barbarez should count for nought, as Southgate’s men get off the mark for 2024 at the third time of asking.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.