(foto: Getty Images)
During the match, cameras captured several heartwarming interactions between Bosnia's talisman Edin Džeko and Germany’s defender Antonio Rüdiger, who are good friends and former teammates.
Bosnia and Herzegovina may have lost 2-1 to the favored Germany, but the match was a close contest. Germany scored both of their goals in the first half, with Deniz Undav netting twice for the visitors. Undav has been shining at club level with Stuttgart. Bosnia's moment came in the second half when Edin Džeko found the back of the net.
It’s worth noting that in the first half, Ermedin Demirović hit the crossbar during a counterattack, and with a bit more luck, the ball could have ended up in Germany’s net.
In the 71st minute, the veteran Džeko leaped high and headed the ball past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, making it 2-1. The assist came from Benjamin Tahirović. Despite the result in favor of Germany, Džeko was the star of the show, impressing even Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger.
The Bosnian striker and German defender know each other from their time playing together at AS Roma, and Rüdiger was well aware of the danger Džeko posed to the Bosnian team. The two have a great relationship, and cameras captured multiple interactions between them before, during, and after the game. Toni Rüdiger even made a cameo during Džeko’s post-match interview with Bosnian media.
After the match, the former teammates greeted each other again outside the stadium, where Džeko was accompanied by his closest family members.