Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Poland 1-0 in a UEFA Nations League match in Zenica, with Ivan Bašić scoring the only goal from an 84th-minute penalty. It was the national team's first match following the international retirement of all-time top scorer Edin Džeko.
Savio Barbarez's side kept a clean sheet to secure a vital group win. Poland enjoyed more possession, with 56%, and had more shots, but lacked a cutting edge. Bosnia's decisive moment came late when the referee awarded a penalty, which Bašić converted coolly.
How the win unfolded
The match was evenly contested, with chances at both ends. Poland applied pressure, but a defence marshalled by Zlomislić, Smajlović, Katić, Muharemović and Kolašinac held firm. The first half ended goalless, with yellow cards shown to Armin Gigović and Ermedin Demirović.
The breakthrough arrived in the closing stages. In the 84th minute, Bašić stepped up and sent his penalty past Matvej Bułka. "There was no specialist striker among the Polish team's substitutes," one observer noted, perhaps explaining the visitors' lack of punch up front.
What the victory means
This was Bosnia's first win in their last five outings, following a run of one draw and two defeats. The victory in Zenica breaks that negative sequence and boosts morale ahead of the next qualifiers. The team's next fixture is an away match against Sweden on November 14.
The selection showed character in a difficult moment, with Barbarez starting two forwards, Demirović and Tabaković. In the second half, he introduced Esmir Bajraktarević and Benjamin Tahirović, followed later by Samed Baždar and Jovo Lukić, injecting fresh legs. Full squad details and player statistics are available on the squad page.
The match was played in tribute to legendary figure Edin Džeko, whose name was chanted by fans before kick-off and honoured with a banner in the stands. This win is the best possible response to his departure. The team now turns its focus to the future and preparations for Sweden, aiming to continue the positive momentum. The current Nations League standings can be checked on the standings page.
