Under the lights in Zenica, the result became a footnote. Bosnia-Herzegovina drew 1-1 with Sweden in the Nations League on Friday, but the night belonged to Edin Dzeko as the 39-year-old brought an international career spanning 19 years to a close in front of his home support.
Quick facts
- Edin Dzeko ended his Bosnia-Herzegovina career with 152 caps and 73 goals.
- The captain was substituted in the 62nd minute for Haris Tabakovic.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden drew 1-1 in the Nations League.
- Dzeko, now playing for newly promoted Bundesliga side Schalke, had a first-half goal ruled out by VAR.
Selected from the start for his final match at Bilino Polje Stadium, the former Manchester City forward received a guard of honour when he left the pitch. Sweden’s players joined the Bosnia-Herzegovina squad in saluting their departing opponent as Tabakovic came on.
The tributes had begun much earlier. In the 11th minute, supporters lit flares around the stadium while fireworks went up, before displaying a banner reading: “Thank you, Edin.”
Dzeko briefly thought he had marked the occasion with a goal before half-time. VAR intervened, however, after determining that the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move.
The equaliser against Sweden did not alter the mood at full-time. Bosnia-Herzegovina’s players lifted their long-serving captain in celebration, and Dzeko completed a lap of honour in Zenica after nearly two decades as one of his country’s defining football figures.
