Bosnia and Herzegovina close on World Cup place

Bosnia and Herzegovina are on the cusp of a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after a comfortable victory against Liechtenstein shaped by two goals from Edin Džeko.

Safet Sušić's team were four to the good by the break in Zenica following a half in which strikes by Zvjezdan Misimović and Vedad Ibišević sandwiched the Manchester City FC forward's double. Nicolas Hasler's 61st-minute reply was nothing more than consolation for the visitors.

Level on points with Greece in Group G but with a goal difference advantage over their rivals of +17, Bosnia and Herzegovina will – barring an unexpected turn of events – qualify for their first final tournament if they win in Lithuania on Tuesday.

Džeko set the hosts on their way to a seventh victory of the campaign when he headed in Avdija Vršajević's ball with the half-hour mark approaching. Three goals in six minutes followed as Liechtenstein were swamped by their opponents.

Vršajević was involved in two of them, first finding Senad Lulić who teed up Misimović to score from ten metres. The HNK Hajduk Split player then landed a cross onto the head of Ibišević, who 60 seconds later turned provider for Džeko to sweep in his second.

With the points secure, Bosnia and Herzegovina eased up in the second half, enabling Hasler to finish off Robin Gubser's assist.