Preview: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Georgia - prediction, team news, lineups

Georgia will be bidding to make it four straight victories in all competitions when they take on Bosnia-Herzegovina in an international friendly on Friday night.

The away side recorded a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in their last friendly on November 15, while Bosnia suffered a 1-0 defeat to the United States in a friendly one month later.

Match preview

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Bosnia will enter this match off the back of three straight defeats in all competitions, losing their last friendly against the United States on December 19, in addition to their last two World Cup 2022 qualification matches against Finland and Ukraine.

A record of seven points from eight matches left Bosnia in fourth spot in Group D, meaning that they will not be present in the finals of the World Cup later this year.

The Dragons played at the 2014 World Cup, being eliminated in the group stage, but they have now failed to qualify for the finals of the last two tournaments, while the national team have also never been present at a European Championship.

Ivaylo Petev's side will now be looking ahead to their UEFA Nations League campaign, which gets underway against Finland on June 4, meaning that their next two friendlies against Georgia and Luxembourg will act as valuable preparation for the return to competitive action in little over two months.

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Georgia, meanwhile, have also failed to qualify for the finals of the 2022 World Cup, finishing their Group B campaign down in fourth position behind Spain, Sweden and Greece.

The Crusaders ended their qualification campaign on a high, though, recording victories away to Kosovo and at home to Sweden, while they beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in their last friendly back in November.

As a result, Willy Sagnol's side will be in a confident mood ahead of this match, and like Bosnia, the national team are preparing to begin their UEFA Nations League campaign at the start of June.

Georgia have never qualified for the finals of a World Cup or European Championship, but they are on the best winning run since the end of 2018 and will be looking for positive results against Bosnia and Albania in their next two friendlies before hosting Gibraltar in the UEFA Nations League on June 2.

Team News

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Bosnia have leading goalscorer and captain Edin Dzeko in their squad for the next two friendlies, and the 36-year-old is expected to lead the line for the home side here.

Head coach Petev could hand international debuts to Vladan Kovacevic, Hrvoje Milicevic and Amar Dedic at some point during the match, but the starting XI is likely to be full of experience.

Luka Menalo could be given the nod over Ermedin Demirovic to start alongside Dzeko in attack, while Standard Liege midfielder Gojko Cimirot should feature from the first whistle.

Georgia boss Sagnol is expected to select a strong XI for this match, with Tornike Okriashvili, who is the leading goalscorer in the squad with 13, operating in the final third of the field.

There is also likely to be a spot in an attacking area for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has found the back of the net on five occasions in 12 appearances for his country.

Veteran goalkeeper Giorgi Loria is expected to feature between the sticks once again, while Guram Kashia should captain the team from the middle of the defence.

Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Ahmedhodzic, Kovacevic, Hadzikadunic, Civic; Stevanovic, Gojak, Cimirot, Hadziahmetovic; Menalo, Dzeko

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Loria; Kakabadze, Kashia, Khocholava; Lobzhanidze, Gvilla, Kvekveskiri, Azarovi; Tsitaishvili, Okriashvili, Kvaratskhelia

We say: Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-1 Georgia

It is always difficult to know what to expect from friendly matches, especially at this stage of the year, and we are finding it tough to separate the two sides here. Indeed, a tight encounter is unlikely to produce many goals, so we have had to settle on a 1-1 draw in Zenica.

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