Sitting pretty at the summit of their UEFA Nations League section, Germany bid to take another step closer to the quarter-finals when they meet Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Friday.
Julian Nagelsmann's crop have taken four points from their first six on offer in League A Group 3, while their hosts sit third and are still searching for their maiden victory in this year's tournament.
Match preview
© Imago
Reeling from the heartbreak of a quarter-final elimination at their home European Championships, a vengeful Germany laid down an early Nations League marker with a 5-0 obliteration of Hungary in their opening battle, where five different names got on the scoresheet.
Die Mannschaft were on course to maintain their 100% start in the Netherlands when Denis Undav and Joshua Kimmich cancelled out Tijjani Reijnders's second-minute opener, only for Inter Milan's marauding wing-back Denzel Dumfries to steal a slice of the spoils for Oranje.
Nevertheless, Germany's superior defence means that they currently lead the way in League A Group 3 on goal difference, although second place would still suffice for direct entry into the quarter-finals, to be held next March before the semis and final in June.
As respectable as a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands is, that result prolonged Germany's struggles away from home, as the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists now have a mere four victories under their belt from their last 13 matches outside of German territory.
Furthermore, Die Mannschaft have remarkably only ever won one of their nine Nations League matches on the road - drawing each of their last four such matches - but few should expect Bosnia to prevent Nagelsmann's men making it two for 10 on Friday.
© Imago
Yo-yoing from League B to League A ever since the Nations League's inception, Bosnia already look set for another two-horse battle with Hungary to avoid finishing dead last and suffering an automatic demotion back down to the second tier.
The Dragons' current third-placed ranking would give them the safety net of a relegation/promotion playoff, but Sergej Barbarez's one-point crop are only beating the Hungarians on goal difference, having actually managed to put the ball in the back of the net unlike the Magyars.
Both of those goals came against the Netherlands on the opening matchday, but Bosnia shipped five at the wrong end of the field in a chastening 5-2 defeat, before ensuring that they would end the first round of fixtures in third with a goalless draw against Hungary.
That 0-0 ended a horrendous run of seven straight defeats for the Dragons, who lost their last four Euro 2024 qualifiers to extend their wait for a maiden appearance at the continental championships as an independent nation, although they did turn out at the 2014 World Cup.
The hosts can take comfort from a three-game winning run at home in the Nations League, although they have never got one over Germany as an independent nation, last losing 3-1 in a 2010 friendly as Bastian Schweinsteiger netted twice from the penalty spot.
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![Kai Havertz celebrates scoring for Germany on June 29, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/kai-havertz.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Kai Havertz celebrates scoring for Germany on June 29, 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Imago
Reportedly managing a minor knee problem since the beginning of the season, Arsenal marksman Kai Havertz is one of five players to have pulled out of the Mannschaft squad for this month's fixtures, a list that also includes Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala.
David Raum, Benjamin Henrichs and Robin Koch are also out of the reckoning, which had led to call-ups for Robin Gosens, Kevin Schade and the uncapped duo of Jamie Leweling and Jonathan Burkardt.
At least one senior debut will be made on Friday, as none of Germany's three goalkeepers - Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nubel and Janis Blaswich - have ever played for Die Mannschaft, who are also without the retired Manuel Neuer and long-term knee victim Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
As for Bosnia, Barbarez has only been hit by one withdrawal in the shape of 26-year-old midfielder Ifet Dakovac, although he is still uncapped at senior level and will therefore not be a major miss.
The Dragons are still skippered by timeless striker Edin Dzeko, who is still kicking at the age of 38 for Fenerbahce and boasts an impressive nine goals from 13 games across all tournaments in 2024-25.
Dzeko should be partnered up front by Bundesliga-based forward Ermedin Demirovic, who plies his trade for Stuttgart, while ex-Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac helms the backline.
Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Gazibegovic, Kolasinac, Bicakcic, Katic, Dedic; Tahorivic, Hajradanovic; Basic; Demirovic, Dzeko
Germany possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Wirtz, Andrich, Gross, Gnabry; Undav, Burkardt
We say: Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-2 Germany
Germany boss Nagelsmann may be without a plethora of celebrated names due to injury or international retirement, but an out-of-sorts Bosnia side should not pose much threat to the visitors either way.
A comfortable victory for Die Mannschaft is the only outcome we can envisage before Germany pit their wits against Netherlands in next Monday's blockbuster battle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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