Under-17s: Bosnia and Herzegovina start with 5-0 win as Cervellini denied by the woodwork

Bosnia and Herzegovina ran out 5-0 winners in their home debut in Round Two – League B of the Qualifiers for Euro U-17 2025. After flying out of the blocks, with the hosts going close through Bogović from a corner, the match soon settled into a phase of relative balance. San Marino began to show themselves, looking for space in behind the Bosnian back four, especially through the movement of Grandoni and Meloni, although they were not flawless in their use of the ball. Midway through the half the young Biancazzurri came close to taking the lead through Tamagnini, picked out at the far post by Montali, but his close-range right-footed effort was thwarted by Banjić’s positioning. Having escaped that scare, Bosnia broke the deadlock through Mehmedović: the forward was quickest to react to a loose ball in the area after the defence had cut out Ćulum’s low cross. San Marino’s luck was out shortly afterwards as they almost made it 1-1 through Tamagnini from a corner, only to concede again from the ensuing goal-kick. On that occasion Conti misjudged the timing of his run out on a long ball from deep and Vrban – in a borderline position after Ramić’s knockdown – had the simplest of tasks to turn it into the net. Before the break there was an eye-catching move involving Meloni and Grandoni which forced Blagojević into a risky intervention inside the penalty area.

Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged better from the dressing rooms in the second half, immediately finding a third goal. Deket picked out Mehmedović in an onside position, who controlled with his right and instantly fired across goal with his left to beat Conti to the punch. Despite the scoreline, the Titans did not give up on the idea of finding the net and created several dangerous situations. The hosts were equally threatening, hitting the crossbar through Karanović, who then had to bow to a fine reflex save from Conti. Bosnia did not fade as the minutes passed; instead they found the strike that made it four just past the hour. Vrban showed great skill in setting up his medium-range shot, which caught the San Marino keeper by surprise. The Biancazzurrini continued to chase a consolation goal, which seemed certain on 65 minutes when Molinari did well to work a good ball and release Terni. His cross towards the near post was perfectly directed onto the head of Bucchi, who however failed to hit the target from a promising position. The same applies to the chance that fell to Grandoni two minutes later, when he was unable to find the goal at the end of a fine move involving Meloni and Molinari. In the closing stages Bosnia and Herzegovina went back on the front foot, adding Deket to the scoresheet on 79 minutes. Much of the credit went to Kadirić’s through ball, which sent the midfielder clear to finish past Conti one-on-one. The Titans kept pushing to get off the mark, but the scramble following Molinari’s set piece on 87 minutes came to nothing – despite Stefani’s attempt and the subsequent strike from Cervellini, which rattled the upright to the right of Banjić. 

Euro U17 2025, Round 2 – League B | Bosnia and Herzegovina – San Marino 5-0

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (4-2-3-1)

Banjić; Ćulum (77’ Voloder), Mustafić (67’ Kelmendi), Blagojević, Jelić (67’ Zulović); Vrban, Subašić (46’ Karanović); Bogović, Deket, Mehmedović; Ramić (67’ Kadirić)

Substitutes: Mujanić, Višekruna, Arifović

Head coach: Muhamed Оakmic

SAN MARINO (3-5-2)

Conti; Zavoli (61’ Colombini), Stefani, Montali; Tamagnini, Meloni, Pennacchini (61’ Canarezza), Bucchi (81’ Cervellini), Terni (77’ Guidi); Grandoni, Arlotti (46’ Molinari)

Substitutes: Cenci, Sammaritani, Biordi, Ciacci

Head coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso

Referee: Roman Jitari (MDA)

Assistant referees: Alexandru Sajin (MDA) and Gergo Vigh-Tarsonyi (HUN)

Fourth official: Márton Rúsz (HUN)

Scorers: 28’ and 48’ Mehmedović, 33’ and 60’ Vrban, 79’ Deket

Booked: Kelmendi