Head-to-head
The Bosnians have lost their two previous matches against Argentina, both friendlies, scoring seven and conceding none.
A Gabriel Batistuta hat-trick helped the Argentines win 5-0 in Cordoba in 1998 – a result which remains Bosnia’s heaviest defeat in international football.
The other meeting was in November last year when Sergio Aguero netted both goals in the US city of St Louis.
Match facts
Argentina
La Albiceleste have only mustered two wins in their last nine World Cup games against European sides, drawing four and losing three.
However, they have won won nine of their last 12 group games (D2, L1) at the tournament, scoring 24 goals and conceding just four times. Their only defeat in that sequence was against England in 2002.
Lionel Messi has only scored one goal in 571 minutes of World Cup football – against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. He has found the net with one of 31 shots.
Argentina scored 35 times in World Cup qualifying – only Germany (36) managed more goals. Alejandro Sabella’s side scored more goals than any other South American side in qualifying (35).
Bosnia-Hercegovina
They are the only debutants at the 2014 World Cup. The last debutants to win their first World Cup match was Senegal against France in 2002. Since 1950, the best record for a side making their debut is third, achieved by Portugal in 1966 and Croatia in 1998.
The Bosnians scored eight headed goals in qualifying – no European side managed more. Those headed goals were shared between Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic (four each).
Dzeko scored 10 times overall in qualifying, while Ibisevic hit eight goals. Robin van Persie (11) was the only European striker with a better record.
Zvjezdan Misimovic created more chances in qualifying (30) than any other Bosnian, including four assists.
Current form
Argentina are ranked number 6th in the current FIFA ranking, while Ecuador are ranked 21
Last five matches by Switzerland
Friendly internationals 2014
07.06.2014 Argentina – Slovenia 2:0 (1:0)
Friendly internationals 2014
04.06.2014 Argentina – Trinidad and Tobago 3:0 (1:0)
Friendly internationals 2014
05.03.2014 Romania – Argentina 0:0
Friendly internationals 2013
18.11.2013 Argentina – Bosnia and Herzegovina 2:0 (1:0)
Friendly internationals 2013
15.11.2013 Argentina – Ecuador 0:0
They have won 3 and drawn 2 of their last 5 games
Last 5 matches by Bosnia and Herzegovina
Friendly internationals 2014
03.06.2014 Mexico – Bosnia and Herzegovina 0:1 (0:1)
Friendly internationals 2014
30.05.2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina – Côte d’Ivoire 2:1 (1:0)
USA, Saint LouisEdward Jones Dome
Friendly internationals 2014
05.03.2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina – Egypt 0:2 (0:0)
Friendly internationals 2013
18.11.2013 Argentina – Bosnia and Herzegovina 2:0 (1:0)
World Cup 2014, Qualifying tournament, Europe, Group G
15.10.2013 Lithuania – Bosnia and Herzegovina 0:1 (0:0)
They have won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches
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