REUTERS

Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez opted for a blend of experience, youth and new faces when he announced his World Cup squad on Monday, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the line and uncapped midfielder Ermin Mahmic also included.

Dzeko is Bosnia’s most capped player and all-time top scorer. The 40-year-old is one of two survivors from his country’s only previous World Cup appearance in 2014, alongside defender Sead Kolasinac.

Barbarez wasted no time in calling up Mahmic after the 21-year-old Austrian-born player had his request to change allegiance to Bosnia approved by FIFA earlier in May.

Mahmic featured for Austria at Under-17 and Under-21 level, and had also played with Bosnia’s Under-19 team, and Barbarez already sees him having a long career with the national side.

Bosnia play two warm-up matches against North Macedonia on May 29 in Sarajevo and Panama in St. Louis and begin their World Cup campaign against Canada on June 12 in Toronto.