Unexpected fans: How a couple from Liverpool became passionate supporters of the Bosnian national team

Phil and his partner Gaia from Liverpool, England, reached out to share their story how they accidentally became some of the most ardent supporters of the Bosnia national team. As they stated, it all started after the unforgettable match against Italy in Zenica, when the Dragons secured their spot in the World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout.

The atmosphere, the passion of the fans, and the leadership of Edin Dzeko completely won us over. Since that night, Bosnia has become our team.

Every match is a holiday

Their love for the national team quickly grew into something much more than just ordinary cheering. They noted that the spare room of their house in Liverpool now looks like a real Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The walls are covered with large flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ambassadorial flags, an official Edin Dzeko jersey, scarves, keychains, magnets, fan chains, car ornaments, coasters, and numerous other souvenirs they have been collecting for years. They say they now have so many that they stopped counting a long time ago.

Phil and Gaia said that every performance of the Dragons is a special event in their home. "Every match of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a true celebration for us. We decorate the room with flags of Bosnia and Herzegovina, prepare food from the countries playing that day, and for Bosnia's first match at the World Cup, we made homemade cevapi," the two said. They were particularly delighted by the victory over Qatar, with which the Bosnia national team secured a place in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Praise for Alajbegovic and dreams of Sarajevo

"We are overjoyed that Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a place in the knockout stage after the victory against Qatar. We are convinced, although we admit we might be a bit biased, that Alajbegovic scored the most beautiful goal of the tournament so far," Phil and Gaia said.

The World Cup, they say, awakened in them the desire to get to know Bosnia much better. Their great wish is to visit Sarajevo and Bilino Polje, the place where it all actually began. They are already planning trips to Nations League matches in Stockholm, Warsaw, and Bucharest to continue following Sergej Barbarez's national team. At the end of their message, they sent a simple but very emotional note that best describes their story.

"Football has brought us so much joy, and Bosnia has become a huge part of our lives. If you ever want to tell the story of two fans from Liverpool who unexpectedly became great supporters of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will be our great pleasure", the couple told N1.

The story of Phil and Gaia once again shows that football often transcends borders, languages, and nationalities. Sometimes, a single match, a single atmosphere, and a single national team are enough for a love that lasts a lifetime to be born.