Nearly two decades after the end of a war which tore the country apart, Bosnia-Herzegovina is heading to the World Cup. While bullet holes still litter the country's capital city of Sarajevo, its footballers are hoping to write a new chapter in the emerging nation' history.
Scars of war —
Nearly two decades after the end of a war which tore the country apart, Bosnia-Herzegovina is heading to the World Cup. While bullet holes still litter the country's capital city of Sarajevo, its footballers are hoping to write a new chapter in the emerging nation' history.
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Edin Dzeko will spearhead Bosnia-Herzegovina's challenge at its first ever World Cup. The striker heads to his first major international tournament after a season which saw him win the English Premier League with Manchester City.
Edin to Brazil —
Edin Dzeko will spearhead Bosnia-Herzegovina's challenge at its first ever World Cup. The striker heads to his first major international tournament after a season which saw him win the English Premier League with Manchester City.
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Bosnia confirmed qualification for its first World Cup with a 1-0 win over Lithuania in Vilnius on October 15, 2013. The victory sparked wild celebrations on the streets of Sarajevo, where 50,000 fans took to the streets for a glorious homecoming.
Let the party begin —
Bosnia confirmed qualification for its first World Cup with a 1-0 win over Lithuania in Vilnius on October 15, 2013. The victory sparked wild celebrations on the streets of Sarajevo, where 50,000 fans took to the streets for a glorious homecoming.
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The team's final training camp before departing for the World Cup took place in Ilidza, a picturesque suburb on the outskirts of Sarajevo.
Idyllic Ilidza —
The team's final training camp before departing for the World Cup took place in Ilidza, a picturesque suburb on the outskirts of Sarajevo.
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Local schoolchildren gathered around the edge of the training pitch to catch a glimpse of their heroes and chant Dzeko's name.
Homegrown heroes —
Local schoolchildren gathered around the edge of the training pitch to catch a glimpse of their heroes and chant Dzeko's name.
Tom McGowan/CNN
Like Dzeko, Bosnia's goalkeeper Asmir Begovic plies his trade in England. The Stoke City player's family fled Bosnia before the war, moving to Germany before settling in Canada.
Safe hands —
Like Dzeko, Bosnia's goalkeeper Asmir Begovic plies his trade in England. The Stoke City player's family fled Bosnia before the war, moving to Germany before settling in Canada.
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Miralem Pjanic is a gifted midfield playmaker who received high praise for his role in Roma's impressive second-place finish in Italy's Serie A.
Marvelous Miralem —
Miralem Pjanic is a gifted midfield playmaker who received high praise for his role in Roma's impressive second-place finish in Italy's Serie A.
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Bosnia coach Safet Susic is imposing strict rules on his players while they are in Brazil, including a ban on sex. "There will be no sex in Brazil," Susic said prior to the tournament.
Susic's sex ban —
Bosnia coach Safet Susic is imposing strict rules on his players while they are in Brazil, including a ban on sex. "There will be no sex in Brazil," Susic said prior to the tournament.
Jure Makovec/AFP/Getty Images/file
Susic knows all about playing at the World Cup. He represented Yugoslavia at the 1982 and 1990 tournaments, scoring the opening goal in the team's 4-1 win over United Arab Emirates 24 years ago.
Seasoned Safet —
Susic knows all about playing at the World Cup. He represented Yugoslavia at the 1982 and 1990 tournaments, scoring the opening goal in the team's 4-1 win over United Arab Emirates 24 years ago.
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Bosnia's first World Cup match could hardly be tougher. "The Dragons" will come up against Argentina, a team that boasts the talents of Lionel Messi and is tipped by many as the favorite heading into Brazil 2014. Nigeria and Iran will be Bosnia's other opponents in Group F.
Tough test —
Bosnia's first World Cup match could hardly be tougher. "The Dragons" will come up against Argentina, a team that boasts the talents of Lionel Messi and is tipped by many as the favorite heading into Brazil 2014. Nigeria and Iran will be Bosnia's other opponents in Group F.
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The setting for Bosnia's opening match is Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium. It hosted the 1950 World Cup final, the first time Brazil hosted the tournament, and has been lavishly renovated for this year's showpiece.
All roads lead to Rio —
The setting for Bosnia's opening match is Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana Stadium. It hosted the 1950 World Cup final, the first time Brazil hosted the tournament, and has been lavishly renovated for this year's showpiece.
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