Pjanic doubtful for Bosnia's crunch World Cup qualifier against Greece

Miralem Pjanic is indispensable to Bosnia

Influential midfielder Miralem Pjanic has been included in the 22-man Bosnian squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Greece and Lithuania but coach Safet Susic has warned that he may have to leave out his AS Roma star against the Greeks for the October 12 clash in Piraeus because of a groin injury, in an effort to get him fit for the all-important tie against Lithuania four days later which the 57-year old coach has labelled as a ‘must win’ for his side.

It seems the Bosnians are content with a draw against the group favourites away from home, but with two wins from the opening two games- same as Greece, but with a handsome goal difference- the Balkan side would be relying on the rich goal-scoring form of star striker Edin Dzeko, Vedad Ibisevic and dynamic midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic to get something out of the toughest game of the group.

After two emphatic wins over Liechtenstein(8-1) and Latvia(4-1), the Golden Lilies face a Greek side in Group G that showcased their big tournament credentials in Euro 2012 under Fernando Santos and looked extremely well organised to book a place in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after wins over Latvia(2-1) and Lithuania(2-0). Safet Susic would hope that points taken from the two Greece games would be fantastic for Bosnia’s chances of qualifying for their maiden international tournament.

The Bosnia coach told a press conference in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo while naming his squad- which included uncapped central defender Ervin Zukanovic- that he is ready to take a chance on his indispensable midfielder Pjanic against Greece. He was quoted as saying:

“We’ll see. I need Miralem for the match against Lithuania, which we must win. I don’t think I will risk using him in the first match only to lose him for the second, more important, game against the Lithuanians.

We will still try to get a good result in Greece. I can’t promise a win but we will have a go at them from the off because it’s the only way we can play with strikers like Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic in our ranks. We are not the kind of team able to play a waiting game and base our strategy on fast breaks.”

The clash against Greece will be a treat to watch as it pits two teams of contrasting playing styles: Greece would like to nullify the attacking prowess of Dzeko and company while Bosnia would be desperate to get past a former European Champion to underline their own developmental credentials over the past few years. While many believe that playing Miralem Pjanic against the Greeks would be a huge statement of intent, the experienced Safet Susic wants to play safe with a young talented player this early in the campaign and get him fit again for the rest of the qualifying road and see how his tactics work without Pjanic.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Ibrahim Sehic (Mersin), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banjaluka).

Defenders: Ervin Zukanovic (Kortrijk), Emir Spahic (Sevilla), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg), Ognjen Vranjes (Krasnodar).

Midfielders: Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Senad Lulic (Roma), Miralem Pjanic (Roma), Zvjezdan Misimovic (Dynamo Moscow), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Adnan Zahirovic (Spartak Nalchik), Ivan Sesar (Sarajevo), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Senijad Ibricic (Gaziantepspor), Muamer Svraka (Zeljeznicar Sarajevo)

Forwards: Vedad Ibisevic (Vfb Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Avdija Vrsajevic (Hajduk Split), Miroslav Stevanovic (Vojvodina Novi Sad).