Bosnia and Herzegovina held France to a 1-1 draw in the World Cup qualifying in Strasbourg, for Group D. Thanks to Edin Dzeko’s first-half goal, the former drew one-for-one with the latter, who were down to 10 men. Elsewhere in Group D, Kazakhstan and Ukraine also played a tie, drawing at 2-2. So, yesterday saw, in World Cup football results, all four teams draw in Group D.
Despite the draw, France now leads Group D with eight points, four more than Ukraine, who are in second place. Meanwhile, Bosnia have moved up to fifth place. This is because of the total two points they now have with the one point from the draw.
In France-Bosnia and Herzegovina with a sell-out crowd, new Inter Milan striker Edin Dzeko gave the visitors the initial lead.
But he was also unlucky because he gifted France’s Antoine Griezmann an equalizer just moments later.
Jules Kounde had to return to the bench in the second half for a heavy tackle. And eventually, Les Bleus had to settle for a point with one shot on goal against a tenacious Bosnian side.
Watch this football match through its highlights.
France-Bosnia and Herzegovina Match Report
Didier Deschamps’ side looked a bit rusty in the first half-hour of France’s first international match in over two months. Their best chance of this half came in the 27th minute with Kylian Mbappe’s powerful drive. But this strike from a tight angle smacked off the crossbar.
France’s sluggish start then cost them, ten minutes later. Dzeko intercepted Thomas Lemar’s lazy pass in midfield. And Bosnia’s all-time leading goal scorer scored his 60th international goal with a powerful low strike into the bottom corner.
But Les Bleus were lucky to get an equalizer in the 41st minute. This was when Dzeko nodded a corner off the back of Griezmann and crept over the line.
The goal stood as legit, even after a lengthy VAR review. This was maybe because the match was at the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg, which lacked goal-line technology.
After equalizing, though, France suffered a setback in the 58th minute. Kounde was sent off for a reckless challenge on Sead Kolasinac following another VAR review.
The red card seemed to take the sting out of France’s attack, because they couldn’t create any clear chances then.
Meanwhile, the Bosnian side calmly sat deep and absorbed the waves of pressure that came their way.
Dzeko created a chance to win it in the 80th minute when he masterfully chested the ball before volleying. However, his shot sailed wide.
World Cup Football Results – All Four Teams Draw in Group D:
Kazakhstan 2 – 2 Ukraine
France 1 – 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Goals: 0 – 1 Dzeko 36, 1 – 1 Griezmann 40
Bookings: Veretout, Hadzuahmetovic
Sent off: Kounde
France: Lloris, Digne, Impembe, Varane, Kounde, Lemar, Pogba, Veretout, Mbappe, Griezmann, Benzema
Substitutions: Martial, Coman, Tchouameni, Diaby, Dubois
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sehic, Hadzikadunic, Ahmedhodzic, Sanicanin, Hadziahmetovic, Pjanic, Cimirot, Kolasinac, Demirovic, Dzeko
Substitutions: Loncar, Prevljak, Civic, Cipetic
