Besic's Bosnia stay alive in Euro qualifying

, 10 October, 9comments  |  Jump to most recent
Muhamed Besic's hopes of making next year's Euro2016 Finals in France remain intact after Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Wales 2-0 this evening.

The Everton midfielder was suspended for the game and could not play – he is still recovering from a hamstring complaint in any case – but his compatriots' victory, combined with Cyprus' win over Israel means that they can still make the playoffs with the right result on Tuesday.

The result in Jerusalem means that Wales have qualified for a major tournament for the first time since 1958, while Belgium's victory over Andorra in the same group means that Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas could both feature at the Finals next summer.  



Reader Comments (9)

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Harold Matthews
1 Posted 10/10/2015 at 21:56:03
Very pleased for young Besic. Bosnia were fantastic tonight. Also pleased for Wales. What a great achievement.
Patrick Murphy
2 Posted 10/10/2015 at 22:07:15
Harold, it could be McCarthy versus Besic in a play-off encounter, ouch!
Barry McNally
3 Posted 10/10/2015 at 22:18:43
Mirallas not even in the Belgium squad.
Tony Hill
4 Posted 10/10/2015 at 22:30:34
Yes, Harold, Besic in my opinion could yet be an Everton captain and he's the only one of our current team (with the possible exception of young Galloway) who has real bite and cutting edge – a version of Cahill.

He has a way to go and I hope he doesn't fall prey to recurrent injury, but I think he's a fine prospect and I'm delighted we have him.

Harold Matthews
5 Posted 10/10/2015 at 22:43:46
Yes Tony, he's a fine player and Martinez seems to have big plans for him. Very intelligent lad too.

Patrick. I hope it doesn't happen.

Matt Traynor
6 Posted 11/10/2015 at 03:15:00
Last month I was in Budapest, and given the ongoing issues there with using the train I'd booked to travel on to Bratislava by bus. The bus station was across the road from the new Ferençvaros Stadium. With a couple of hours to go, I decided to go over and have a mooch around. The stadium is typical of the sort you get in Eastern Europe – a basic structure, with the retail etc built around the base.

One of the staff members in the club shop asked me who I supported, and when I said Everton, immediately congratulated us on our victory over Chelsea (even name-checking Naismith as the hat-trick hero who'd replaced their boy Besic!)

They think very highly of him there – happy to see him move to the PL and are convinced he will become a big success at Everton – who they are now following with interest.

Laurie Hartley
7 Posted 11/10/2015 at 05:44:57
In the lead-up to the derby and pondering the departure of Gerrard from the Liverpool camp, it dawned on me what a tremendous impact he had had for them over the years.

This made me think about who we might have in our current squad who could become our "talisman". I even suggested on one post that it might possibly be Ross Barkley – he certainly has the footballing ability.

However, the one thing that Ross seems to lack at this stage of his development is that combative element to his game.

Reading Harold's and Tony's comments, it made me think that Besic just might be the one. He strikes me as one of those players, that once he crosses the white line, has that "bite" that Tony talks about in spades.

Perhaps he is the one. Galloway and Besic on our left flank would certainly give any opposing right winger plenty to think about.

I have liked him from day one and am looking forward to seeing much more of him in a blue shirt.

Eric Myles
8 Posted 11/10/2015 at 06:42:29
Matt #6, maybe the new marketing bods at the Club should look into a partnering agreement and get some of our shirts into their club shop. Sounds like we'd sell more there than at Gatwick!
Patrick Murphy
9 Posted 18/10/2015 at 15:48:26
As it turns out it will be Besic v McCarthy for a coveted place in the Euro 2016 Finals. Ireland travel to Bosnia for the first leg on 13th November with the return three days later. Sweden v Denmark; Norway v Hungary and Ukraine v Slovenia complete the quartet of play-off games.

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