Germany look to roll on against Bosnia-Herzegovina

• Who are the Bosnians playing in the Bundesliga?
• Edin Džeko, made in the Bundesliga
• Recap Germany's October win in Bosnia
• How does the Nations League work?

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Currently atop the Group A3 standings following three wins and a draw - including a 2-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica in early October - Julian Nagelsmann's Germany are already assured of at least a second-placed finish, which means a place in the quarter-finals, but can go one better and wrap up top spot with a win on Saturday. The return of Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz since the last international window has added to Nagelsmann's extensive options for the encounter, with VfB Stuttgart's Chris Führich also returning to a squad stacked full of midfield talent. With his club teammate Deniz Undav having to pull out of international duty after sustaining a hamstring injury, Borussia Mönchengladbach's Tim Kleindienst is likely to lead the line and earn his third cap. The experience of Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané was called upon to replace Undav. In contrast to Sané's 65 caps, whoever is picked to start in goal between Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann will earn their second, while uncapped Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is set to begin on the bench. Versatile Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is not expected to start but might hope to make his second international appearance in his first call-up in over a year, particularly with fellow midfielder Angelo Stiller leaving the team with an injury.

Bosnia have taken just one point - a 0-0 draw with Hungary on Matchday 2 - from their four Nations League outings so far. While there are five Stuttgart players in the Gemany fold, there is one more - striker Ermedin Demirović - in the Bosnia ranks ready to form a partnership capable of testing the German defence with national hero Edin Džeko, a 2008/09 Bundesliga champion with Wolfsburg and now a 38-year-old Fenerbahçe forward looking to add to his 67 international goals (and 138 caps). Sergej Barbarez's squad features two players from newly promoted Bundesliga outfits in St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and Holstein Kiel midfielder Armin Gigović. Hoffenheim attacker Haris Tabaković and a trio of Bundesliga 2 players - Cologne's Denis Huseinbašić, Karlsruhe's Dženis Burnić (both midfielders) and Eintracht Braunschweig defender Ermin Bičakčić - complete a strong Germany-based contingent.

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Match stats

• Germany have never lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina, having won twice and drawn once in their three meetings to date, scoring six goals and conceding three.
• Nagelsmann’s Germany are unbeaten after the standard 90 minutes of their past 13 matches (excluding an extra-time defeat against Spain at Euro 2024).
• Florian Wirtz has two goals and two assists in his last five Germany appearances.
• Germany are four-time FIFA World Cup winners and three-time European champions, but have yet to reach the final four in three editions of the Nations League.
• Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez spent 16 years of his playing career, turning out for Hannover, Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Hansa Rostock and Hamburg, and was the 2000/01 Bundesliga joint-top goalscorer.
• Džeko scored 66 goals in 111 appearances for Wolfsburg between 2007 and 2011.

Probable teams

Germany: Nübel - Kimmich (c), Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstädt - Groß, Andrich - Musiala, Wirtz, Gnabry - Kleindienst
Also in squad: Baumann, Ortega, Gosens, Henrichs, Koch, Tah, Brandt, Führich, Nmecha, Havertz, Sané
Out: Füllkrug (calf), Leweling (thigh), Pavlović (collarbone), Stiller (muscle), Undav (thigh)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Julian Nageslmann

Bosnia: Vasilj - Dedić, Katić, Barišić, Bičakčić, Burnić - Gigović, Huseinbašić - Bašić - Demirović, Džeko (c)
Also in squad: Zlomislić, Gazibegović, Mujakić, Muharemović, Omerović, Čelik, Hajradinović, Tahirović, Bajraktarević, Đakovac, Šunjić, Tabaković, Baždar, Kulenović
Out: -
Doubtful: -
Coach: Sergej Barbarez

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