Luxembourg vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Prediction: Red Lions roar to famous double

Luxembourg kick off their penultimate match in Euro 2023 qualifying with the visit of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday evening (19:45).

The sides last met in June, when a 2-0 win for Luxembourg sparked hope that they could book an unlikely berth in next summer’s group stage. However, after backing that result up with a win against Iceland, one point from their last three has the Red Lions rated as huge outsiders to make Germany.

Bosnia, meanwhile, can go above Thursday’s opponents with a win, but their hopes of making Euro 2024 via the group are already over. A second chance at qualification awaits them in March, however, as a result of their performances in Nations League Group B3.

Team News

The big news for Luxembourg is that teenage sensation Yvandro Borges Sanches is once again missing from the squad. The Borussia Monchengladbach winger has scored three goals in 23 appearances for his country, but he hasn’t played a competitive game since September 11th because of injury.

Bosnia, meanwhile, will be without two talismanic figures – Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic – for Thursday’s trip to the Stade de Luxembourg.

With qualification off the table, 37-year-old Dzeko – Bosnia’s record goalscorer – has asked to sit this camp out, while 114-cap midfielder Pjanic has an adductor injury.

Bosnia manager Savo Milosevic has said his side will “try some new options” ahead of the play-offs in March.

Betting Odds

Luxembourg are 2/1 to win and keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive, while Bosnia are 7/5 to avenge June’s defeat in Zenica. A first-ever draw between the sides can be backed at 23/10.

Both teams to score – NO @ 10/11

BTTS – NO won in the reverse fixture, as well as in six of Luxembourg’s eight group games. The number is even higher for Bosnia, who have only seen both teams score in one of their European qualifiers.

With no Dzeko or Pjanic in the squad, Hertha Berlin’s Smail Prevljak (six goals in 25 caps) will be Bosnia’s highest scorer present in camp, and he hasn’t scored an international goal since June 2022.

Luxembourg to win 1-0 @ 15/2

Only a win will suffice for Luxembourg on Thursday, and they remain dependent on Iceland beating Slovakia at the same time.

Goal difference doesn’t come into play for Luxembourg in Group J, as a result of their inferior head-to-head record against Slovakia. Consequently, they can afford to play a patient game against Bosnia, who have little riding on the fixture.

Bosnia have scored just seven goals in eight qualifiers, with Luxembourg only slightly ahead on eight in as many games.

The aforementioned absences of Dzeko and Pjanic further dent the away side’s chances of scoring, and if Milosevic does choose to make even more changes to his line-up, Luxembourg can take full advantage.

You can read all of our previews for qualifying and the tournament itself when it gets under way in our Euro 2024 Betting Tips section, so keep checking that out.