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Edin Dzeko marked his 150th international cap by helping Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar 3-1 on June 24, then immediately made sure everyone knew he wasn’t happy about being pulled off the pitch.
The veteran striker smashed a water bottle upon his substitution in the second half, visibly frustrated after missing a chance to pad Bosnia’s lead.
What happened on the pitch
Bosnia’s victory was comprehensive enough to send them through as Group B winners. The result also eliminated Qatar from the 2026 FIFA World Cup entirely.
Dzeko contributed a deflected effort among the goals, while younger teammate Kerim Alajbegovic delivered what observers called a standout performance.
Group B ultimately sent Bosnia, Switzerland, and Canada through to the knockout rounds.
Bosnia now faces a probable round-of-32 matchup against the United States, one of the co-hosts.
The Dzeko factor
Reaching 150 caps is a milestone few players achieve at any level. Dzeko has been Bosnia’s talisman for over a decade, the player most associated with the country’s rise from post-war footballing obscurity to World Cup contention.
Dzeko’s leadership role was noted throughout the tournament despite his limited playing time in previous games.
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