USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Preview with Emina Ekić: "We Weren't Meant to Exist"
Soccer Sheet talks with Bosnian women's international Emina Ekić about what today's match means to Bosnians in the U.S. and abroad. Also - join us tonight for a USMNT watch party at Memorial Stadium!
Don’t forget: you can still join us for tonight’s USMNT watch party at Memorial Stadium. Doors open at 7:00 PM for free tickets, kickoff is at 8:00 PM. The first 750 attendees will get a free commemorative poster from Soccer Sheet. RSVP is required so please register in advance.
On March 31, 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina were trailing Italy in the final round of UEFA Men’s World Cup qualifying. Winner punches their ticket to the World Cup, loser stays home for another grueling four years.
With 11 minutes to go in regulation, Swiss-born Haris Tabaković found the equalizer for Bosnia, eventually sending the match to penalties. Bosnia made every shot as Italy faltered, advancing to the World Cup with a final score of 1-1, (4-1).
It was an improbable run for the Bosnian men, a team that started the year ranked 71st of 210 in FIFA’s international rankings. Italy was ranked 13th before their loss to Bosnia. In the semifinal against 35th-ranked Wales, it was the same story: a late equalizer, and four made penalties.
The victories led to Bosnia’s second-ever World Cup appearance. Now, thanks to a win against Qatar and a quality draw against Canada, Bosnia have advanced to the knockout stage for the first time.
Yesterday, Soccer Sheet spoke with Bosnian Women’s National Team member Emina Ekić, who joined us from Houston to talk about what this World Cup run means for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that has endured both civil war and genocide in our lifetimes.
Ekić’s parents fled the country as refugees in the 90s, and she was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
“It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t from Bosnia, but Bosnia qualifying — and this run in the World Cup — just mean so much more than football …
A lot of those [Bosnian Men’s National Team players] weren’t meant to exist. There was a genocide in Bosnia. Technically I wasn’t meant to exist either. It’s something that my parents went through.”
Ekić gave Soccer Sheet a score prediction of 1-1 in regulation, with her national team winning in penalties - reflecting the two underdog victories that propelled them through European qualification and united the country.
You can watch the entire interview above, or listen to it below. The United States play Bosnia at 8:00 PM in the Men’s World Cup Round of 32; tickets are still available for the Charlotte Independence/Soccer Sheet watch party at Memorial Stadium.
