Who will win the important top match in Group H?
With Bosnia and Austria, there are two teams in Group H that have not lost a single point in the World Cup qualifiers so far. While coach Sergej Barbarez’s men already have four wins to their name and are leading the standings, the Red-White-Reds are right behind them with three wins from three games.
Given that only the group winner will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, the two direct duels will logically be decisive. If the tip for an away win between Bosnia and Austria comes true on Tuesday evening in the small Bilino Polje stadium, this would greatly increase the likelihood of Rangnick’s team qualifying for the World Cup. Accordingly, the ÖFB team is going into the away game in the cauldron of Zenica with great focus.
However, the task in Zenica will be a complicated one. The national teams from Germany and the Netherlands can also confirm this. During the Nations League group stage, the DFB team struggled to a narrow 2-1 victory in the cramped stadium. The Oranje even had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Because the team led by veteran Edin Dzeko also won all four group matches in the World Cup qualifiers, including a three-point win in Romania, the “boys” may face a setback in the race for a ticket to North America.
The fact is that the ÖFB players will have to improve significantly on their disappointing performance in Saturday’s 1-0 home win against Cyprus if they are to predict the outcome of the Bosnia vs. Austria match in favor of last year’s European Championship quarterfinalists. However, it may even be an advantage that the world number 22 is playing away this time.
As a reminder, Rangnick’s team laid the foundation for their participation in the European Championship in Germany during the 2023 European Championship qualifiers, largely on the road. Good results, such as in Belgium (1-1) and in the decisive match in Sweden (3-1), caught the attention and, coupled with the high individual quality, are arguments that tip the scales in favor of the red-white-reds on Tuesday evening.
Considering that the Bosnians regained momentum with a more than convincing 6:0 away win in San Marino at the weekend, I don’t see any value in the Bosnia vs. Austria odds for a three-point win for the visitors. The 1.75 on the three-way market, which you can bet on in the Interwetten app, is too low in my opinion and therefore not a serious option.
In my opinion, it is far more interesting to bet on more goals being scored than expected. The current odds for over 2.5 goals are above the doubling mark, so the bookmakers are expecting a low-scoring match. I disagree and base my argument primarily on the offensive quality on both sides.
Bosnia – Austria Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
After five encounters, the record between Bosnia and Austria is completely even. Both national teams have celebrated one victory each. In addition, there have been three draws. The last two meetings took place in the 2018/19 Nations League, when Bosnia won 1-0 at home and fought to a 0-0 draw in Austria. Austria’s only victory dates back to 2000, 25 years ago. If this dry spell comes to an end on Tuesday evening, the “boys” will have all the cards in their hands with regard to their first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Bosnia – Austria Tip
At just 17 years of age, Karim Alajbegovic, who plays in Austria, could be the one to spoil the party for Rangnick’s team. The hugely talented RB Salzburg player already showed his undoubted potential with an assist and a goal against San Marino.
Now he wants to follow up against his teammate in the red-white-red goal, Alexander Schlager. With Dzeko and Demirovic, Barbarez’s team also has other strong attackers who are always capable of scoring goals. Four games, four wins and 10 goals scored have the “Golden Lilies” dreaming of the 2026 World Cup finals!
But it’s also clear that the European Championship quarter-finalists from the land of mountains are in no way inferior to the current leaders of Group H in terms of quality. Quite the contrary. If Rangnick’s team brings its A game to the pitch, it will decide the outcome of this match. The important thing will be not to squander chances.
In any case, I see this as a duel between two teams in good form and very dangerous in attack. Consequently, I’m betting on the Bosnia vs. Austria betting odds for the Asian over 2.25, which guarantees a refund of half the stake even if two goals are scored during the game. I’m betting six units on the 1.71 offered!
