On Saturday 14th November 2009, Portugal play Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first leg of their World Cup playoff. This is a really tough one to predict for me, as Portugal have really struggled in the group stage and Bosnia appear to have a strong side. Sports retailers will certainly be hoping for a Portuguese victory, as they are likely to be one of the best selling World Cup Jerseys likely to be among the best selling kits next summer. Before we look at the two teams in more depth, let’s take a look at their qualifying performance in the group stage.
The first thing that comes to mind when comparing the group tables is that many people will feel that Bosnia performed very well and Portugal underachieved. I would certainly have predicted Portugal to finish top of Group 1, but they were only a loss away from finishing 4th!. I would anticipate that Carlos Queiroz will lose his position if those playing in a Portugal World Cup jersey do not qualify for the World Cup. In Group 5, Bosnia-Herzegovina finished behind Spain, but managed to finish ahead of nations like Turkey and Belgium.
Portugal have far more household names than Bosnia after you compare their squads, but if you look closer at the statistics of a couple of Bosnia players, you will see that they have some danger players. Bosnia have two Wolfsburg players in their team, a team that have performed quite well in the Champions League this season. The first is midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic, who has scored 16 goals in 46 appearances for his country. The second is striker Edin Dzeko, who has an impressive record of 14 goals in 21 international appearances. PAOK striker Zlatan Muslimovic has an even better goalscoring record with 13 goals in 19 games for Bosnia. These are clearly players that Portugal will need to look out for. Portugal have world class players at their disposal, such as Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Deco, Joao Moutinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, but although Ronaldo will be travelling with squad (much to the delight of Real Madrid!), he is nowhere near fit and is unlikely to feature much, if at all.
I will predict that Portugal will just scrape through this World Cup playoff, but unless they play to their full potential, Bosnia will be the ones heading to South Africa in June.
Written by Stephen Whiteford, a sports writer who blogs about the 2010 World Cup.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
fcukk thiss shyttt
portugal is gonna winn
idc wut peoplee sayy
just watch the game on november 14
they going to kick asssss
waitt and seeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Bosnia would go through. It won’t be easy since Portugal play best when needed but Bosnian finishes are a lot better than Portugal’s
Please come on,… Bosnians will give them a big footbal lesson and they will remember forever. Since I spent my entire life in the sport, I will make very clear that everybody will get suprise with this Bosnian team.
Bosnia will win in Portugal…. 2:1
Bosnia??????? Wheres that?? Lol.. Portugal gona beat the S..t out of u guys HAHAHAHAHA… F..K u all
U mother.fucker !!
portugal was lucky at home. 3 times we hit the posts.. today we gonna destroy portugal. but also ref is on your side. fifa president want ronaldo to be in world cup
Mario, you need to educate yourself, you stupid uneducated fool, go to school and learn some geography you dumbazz!
Portugal will be hard to overcome, but not impossible. If Bosnian team gives 110% i think they will beat Portugal and go to SA>>>> I think the games will be great to watch, whatever the outcome!
Portugal 1:3 Bosnia
sorry, but we are winner!!!
Im from Bosnia and for some reason i like Portugal and speciali Luis Figo he was briliant player but in this game Bosnia and Herzegovina will win sorry my friends Portugals
Watch Portugal v Bosnia Live Score, Highlights Fifa World Cup 2010 Qualifiers Results Online. Here comes another important playoff in the 2010 World Cup qualifying round which will be held between Portugal and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
http://www.clbuzz.com/portugal-v-bosnia-live-score-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2010-qualifiers-results/
Dzeko and Ibisevic. What else is their to say!!!!!
Portugal isn’t that good and we well proof that in Zenica. BiH is going to JAR 100%
My opinion: The best team should go on.I love Portugal and i believe they going to win,but if they do not maket congratulations to Bosnia.
no way… they are already leading.. it’s only a matter of time before portugal makes it now. lets see what happens tomorrow