Belgium v Bosnia and Herzegovina background
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Article summary
Defeat in Wales last time out was a setback for Belgium, and they need to be sharp, with Bosnia and Herzegovina eager to hoist themselves back into Group B contention.
Article top media content
Article body
Belgium will look to rally after a defeat in Wales last time out, but their visitors – Bosnia and Herzegovina – can hoist themselves back into Group B contention with an away win.
Previous meetings
• Radja Nainggolan cancelled out an Edin Džeko strike as Belgium earned a 1-1 draw in Zenica in the sides' first Group B encounter.
• That was the teams' fifth meeting; Belgium's record in those games is W1 D1 L3 (W1 D0 L1 at home – W0 D1 L2 away).
• Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to register a victory in their first four Group B games – a run which cost coach Safet Sušić his job – but have won both of their competitive matches in 2015 under new boss Mehmed Baždarević.
Disciplinary
• Vincent Kompany is available after serving a one-match ban in June's 1-0 defeat in Wales. Nicolas Lombaerts is a yellow card away from a suspension.
• Edin Džeko is a booking away from a suspension.
Form guide
• Belgium's 1-0 loss to Wales in June was their first Group B defeat – and their first qualifying loss in 16 games (W11 D4) since a 3-1 reverse in Germany in October 2011.
• Belgium are unbeaten in 12 competitive home qualifiers (W7 D5) since a 1-0 loss to Germany on 3 September 2010 – five years to the day before this game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Trivia and links
• Belgium forward Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco turns 22 the day after the game.
• Belgium defenders Jason Denayer and Vincent Kompany played alongside Džeko at Manchester City FC in England before the forward's switch to AS Roma this summer.
• This is Bosnia and Herzegovina's 100th competitive game: 51 in FIFA World Cups and 49 in UEFA European Championships.
• Belgium's next Group B win would be their 50th in UEFA European Championship games; this is their 113th match in the competition.
• Group B has proved to be the most competitive section in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying so far, with just six points separating the top five sides.