US football icons dismiss Bosnia, but Barbarez's side has already defied the odds

In the United States, confidence appears to be high ahead of the match. Several prominent figures in American football, including former goalkeeper Tim Howard and ex-captain Landon Donovan, have suggested that the US should have enough to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Donovan believes the match could suit the American team tactically. According to him, the United States is likely to control possession, while Bosnia and Herzegovina may sit deeper in a compact 4-4-2 shape and look for chances on the break. He argued that this kind of game could work in the hosts’ favour, as the US tends to be more comfortable when it is asked to break down an opponent rather than defend for long periods.

However, Donovan also pointed to one statistic he considers worrying: the United States has not beaten a European national team in 12 matches. The last such victory, he noted, came against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2021, a fact he described as a warning sign for the team.

Howard largely agreed with that assessment, but went further in his prediction, saying he expects the United States to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina without major difficulty. He pointed to the venue in Santa Clara, the quality of the stadium and the expected support from home fans as factors that should help the American side.

Both also spoke about Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko, expressing clear respect for one of the country’s greatest-ever players.

Donovan described Dzeko as an exceptional forward and a physically imposing player, but added that, at the age of 40, he does not believe the US should be overly worried about him. Howard, who faced Dzeko several times during his playing career, also praised the Bosnian captain, calling him a top-class footballer.

In the end, both former US internationals predicted that the hosts would advance, expecting their team to score early, as it did against Paraguay and Australia in the group stage.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, has already shown at this World Cup that it does not accept the role of outsider. Few expected Barbarez’s team to reach the knockout stage, but discipline, unity and fighting spirit have turned the Bosnian campaign into one of the tournament’s most memorable stories.

The Americans may already see themselves among the last 16, but the final word will not belong to Howard or Donovan. As always, the answer will come where it matters most - on the pitch in Santa Clara.