Sergej Barbarez, the head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has become the first of the 48 national team managers to announce his squad for the upcoming World Cup. The 26-man roster features a host of familiar faces from German football, led by veteran captain Edin Dzeko (40), who currently plays for Schalke.
Alongside Dzeko, Schalke teammate Nikola Katic (29) has also made the cut. From Germany’s second division, KSC midfielder Dzenis Burnic (27) earned his place. The Bundesliga contingent includes St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (30), Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic (28), and Gladbach forward Haris Tabakovic (31)—the latter having secured Bosnia’s World Cup berth with a decisive penalty in the playoff win over Italy (4-1 on penalties).
Other well-known names from Germany include former Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac (32), ex-HSV man Dennis Hadzikadunic (27), former Kiel player Armin Gigovic (24), ex-Hertha midfielder Ivan Sunjic (29), and Stjepan Radeljic (28), who briefly trained at Stuttgart.
Top talent Kerim Alajbegovic (18), set to return to Bayer Leverkusen this summer, is among the most valuable players in the squad with a market value of €15 million. Only VfB’s Ermedin Demirovic (€22 million) and Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemović (23, €20 million) are valued higher.
Notably, the Sturm Graz defensive trio of Jusuf Gazibegovic (26, on loan from Köln), Emir Karic (28), and Arjan Malic (20) did not make the final squad and are on standby. However, Ermin Mahmic (21), who recently switched his international allegiance from Austria to Bosnia, is included.
Barbarez’s side will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 12 against hosts Canada, followed by group matches against Switzerland (June 18) and Qatar (June 24) in Group B.
