Match Preview: Argentina v Bosnia Herzegovina

Who is playing?
Argentina v Bosnia Herzegovina. Group F. Sunday 15th June 2300 BST

Where are they playing?
Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Building began on the transformation in 2010 and involved rebuilding the bottom tier and installing a new roof with a capacity of 79,000 seats as a result. The revamped stadium opened on 2 June 2013 with a friendly international between Brazil and England (2-2).


Maracanã is owned by the state of Rio de Janeiro and become the regular home of Flamengo and Fluminense. Other Rio clubs such as Botafogo and Vasco da Gama also occasionally use the stadium for big games.

Can I watch it on the telly?
You can. BBC One are burning the midnight oil to bring you this one

Big game?
Argentina are hugely fancied to take a tilt at winning the tournament, with the like of Lionel Messi and Sergio aguero expected to shine.

Don't write the Bosnians off however. In Eden Dzeko, they have one of World's most prolific strikers at International level, while influential playmaker Miralem Pjanic could really make a big name for himself in Brazil. Head coach Safet Sušić is known to have turbulent relationship with some of the stars in his squad, so we'll be watching for any spats or splits in the camp.

Sabatini

Any famous Argentines?
Well, there's tennis players Gabriella Sabatini and David Nalbandian. Then there's that whole Evita phenomenon

Any famous Bosnians?
Almost certainly, but the whole "who belongs to which bit of the former Yugoslavia" thing makes it difficult to say with certainty.

Who's playing for Argentina?
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Jose Basanta (Monterrey).


Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St-Germain).

Who's playing for Bosnia Herzegovina?
Goalkeepers: Asmir Begovic (Stoke City), Asmir Avdukic (Borac Banja Luka), Jasmin Fejzic (VFR Aalen).

Defenders: Emir Spahic (Bayer Leverkusen), Toni Sunjic (Zorya Lugansk), Sead Kolasinac (Schalke), Ognjen Vranjes (Elazigspor), Ermin Bicakcic (Eintracht Braunschweig), Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Mensur Mujdza (Freiburg).

Midfielders: Miralem Pjanic (Roma), Izet Hajrovic (Galatasaray), Haris Medunjanin (Gaziantepspor), Senad Lulic (Lazio), Anel Hadzic (Sturm), Tino Susic (Hajduk), Sejad Salihovic (Hoffenheim), Zvjezdan Misimovic (Guizhour Renhe), Senijad Ibricic (Erciyesspor), Avdija Vrsaljevic (Hajduk).

Strikers: Vedad Ibisevic (VfB Stuttgart), Edin Dzeko (Manchester City), Edin Visca (Istanbul BB).

Any useless stats and info?
Of course, here you go:

• The two nations have faced each other twice, Argentina winning on both occasions.

• Gabriel Batistuta bagged a hat-trick and Argentina ran riot 5-0 in May 1998. Javier Zanetti and Ariel Ortega got the other goals.

• The teams met again in November 2013 in a far closer encounter. Sergio Aguero scored both goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory.

Prediction:
A comfy win for Argentina.

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