Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica has witnessed the Bosnian nationwide soccer staff’s giant-killing methods for many years.
Branded a “cursed” venue for visiting sides, it has hosted the Dragons’ triumphs over formidable European opponents – Norway, Greece, Romania, Finland, Wales and Austria – lately, whereas soccer powerhouses Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Turkiye have all been held to attracts right here.
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Bosnia loved an unbeaten streak at Dragons’ Nest between 1995 and 2006. Add to that the stadium’s compact nature, the shut proximity of followers, and it’s no surprise the gamers typically say they really feel at residence right here.
Therefore, when hundreds of Bosnian supporters descended upon the storied area for the house facet’s World Cup playoff remaining towards Italy on Tuesday, it was with an unwavering perception of their staff in addition to the magic of the venue.
Italy’s storied soccer historical past, their 4 World Cup trophies, and a tag of pre-match favourites did little to dampen the native followers’ hopes. And when Esmir Bajraktarevic drilled the ball previous Gianluigi Donnarumma to transform Bosnia’s fourth penalty and inflict a defeat on Italy in a dramatic shootout, pandemonium erupted within the Dragons’ Nest.
‘I’m from Bosnia, take me to America’
Followers started arriving in Zenica – a metropolis 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of the capital, Sarajevo – within the early hours of the morning, properly earlier than the 8:45pm (18:45 GMT) kickoff.
Wave after wave of supporters, dressed within the staff’s colors and waving the nationwide flag, approached the venue from all components of the nation. Some even flew in from overseas to soak in what promised to be a historic evening.
Hundreds of them couldn’t even get near the turnstiles of the ten,000-capacity stadium and as an alternative gathered at a close-by fan zone. Others crammed up cafes and eating places throughout town to observe the match on massive screens.
There was a robust conviction among the many followers that even when the stadium had been 10 instances bigger, it could have nonetheless crammed as much as capability on an evening of this magnitude.
Members of the favored Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv led followers within the streets of Zenica, singing the refrain of their hit tune “USA”.
“I’m from Bosnia, take me to America” match the invoice completely prematurely of the deciding match for a spot within the World Cup cohosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA.
As kickoff approached, the spectators slowly settled into a well-known rhythm: Getting up on their ft through the gamers’ warm-up routines, singing songs and bellowing chants which have carried the nationwide staff of their most necessary fixtures, and making sufficient noise to depend because the twelfth member of the staff.
Bosnom Behar Probeharao (Blossoms Have Bloomed in Bosnia) – a nostalgic chorus that many Bosnians think about an emblem of affection for his or her homeland – rang all through the cauldron and past.
A historic bond, a particular evening
Whereas the world weighed in on the Italian staff’s probabilities of qualifying for the World Cup after lacking out on the final two editions, Bosnia’s legendary captain, Edin Dzeko, reminded followers that their ties with the Azzurri run deeper than an on-field battle.
The 40-year-old striker, with a final shot at taking part in within the World Cup, requested Bosnian followers to applaud the Italian nationwide anthem earlier than kickoff.
It was a reference to the Italian soccer staff’s go to to Sarajevo in 1996, following the Bosnian war, after they performed a pleasant match that helped revive worldwide soccer within the nation.
Followers obliged, as they did 30 years in the past, and the whole stadium stood up and applauded the Italian anthem. However that’s the place the pleasantries ended, and the mission to qualify for the North American World Cup started.
The heated and tense encounter ended 1-1 after additional time, forcing the sport right into a penalty shootout, the place Bosnia emerged because the winners.
The gang screamed, waved their flags, lit flares on the terraces, and set off fireworks from close by buildings – illuminating the sky above Zenica and indicating that the social gathering would keep it up into the early morning. The gamers remained on the pitch to share within the pleasure of the celebrating followers.
As soon as the stadium emptied out, the social gathering quickly spilled onto the streets.
Convoys of vehicles laden with followers, draped with the flag and blaring horns, turned Zenica into an enormous stage, which grew to become the centre of Bosnian celebrations.
‘I believed within the Dragons’
In Sarajevo, a number of hours later, a reception was organised for the gamers and training employees, who had been greeted by practically 100,000 supporters, celebrating what many termed one of many biggest wins within the nation’s historical past.
One regularly shared remark learn, “This isn’t only a victory, it’s a reminder of who we’re.”
Twelve years since their painful first-round exit at their World Cup debut, Bosnia had returned to the massive time.
Probably the most well-known nights on the stadium got here on March 21, 2013, when Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Greece in a qualifier, opening the trail to the nation’s historic first look on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
For a lot of followers, the playoff remaining towards Italy carried related feelings.
Dzevahid Mehicic, an aged man from Zenica, mentioned many individuals from his technology doubted they might reside to see Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for the World Cup once more.
“They thought that second would possibly by no means come once more, however I believed the Dragons had the energy to defeat even a robust Italy,” he advised Al Jazeera after Bosnia’s win.
For the youthful followers, it was a singular expertise of their very own.
Wrapped within the nationwide flag, 11-year-old fan Nihad Babovic mentioned teen ahead Kerim Alajbegovic was his favorite participant moreover Dzeko.
“I can’t look forward to the World Cup to begin so I can watch the matches with my dad.”
For one evening, but once more, Zenica grew to become the beating coronary heart of Bosnia as town’s well-known soccer stadium noticed the previous and current come collectively in a second of collective euphoria.
