Los Angeles, (USA), June 17: A crunch Group B clash at SoFi Stadium on Thursday evening sees Switzerland take on Bosnia and Herzegovina with both teams looking for their first win of the 2026 World Cup, and potentially, a big step towards qualification for the knockout stages.
Switzerland were held in their opening game after a stoppage time Qatar equaliser, which gave the Asian team their first ever point at a World Cup. It was a game that Switzerland dominated. They had 26 shots to Qatar’s six, but paid for not being clinical in front of goal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina on the other hand, nearly spoiled Canada’s opening day party in Toronto in their first game. They took the lead through a header from Jovo Lukic, but conceded late in the second half to Cyle Larin. Both those results mean Group B is anyone’s to take control of, after the first round of games.
That result against Qatar will have hurt Switzerland, not least for the manner in which it happened. They did control large swathes of that game, but always seemed to miss that final piece of the puzzle. It was also perhaps not the most intense Swiss performance that one would have ever see.
Having been hurt right at the end in that game, Switzerland now need to kickstart their campaign on Friday. This is a team that is brimming with talent, particularly in midfield and up top. They will have to move the ball quicker than they did against Qatar, and use the pace of Dan Ndoye and Ruben Vargas a lot more. This is a Bosnian side whose way of playing now under Sergej Barbarez is clear as day.
Bosnia won’t change, they won’t be vastly different to what Switzerland faced against Qatar. So the task for Murat Yakin is cut out. Switzerland need to be better. They’re capable of being better.
Bosnia are nine unbeaten now, with their last loss coming back in September. They have drawn seven and won two of their nine matches since. Bosnia will look to make some progress, by converting some of those draws into wins. Before the tournament, if you’d given Barbarez a draw against Switzerland, he’d have probably taken it, given how the Swiss seemed the strongest team in this group, at least on paper.
However, after two 1-1 draws in the first group games, all possibilities remain wide open in this group.
Bosnia will want to take their chance, but the pragmatist that Barbarez is, he could set up in such a way that he figuratively admits how he sees Qatar as the more winnable game, and Switzerland as the one that they need to use to just stay alive in this group. (Agencies)
