Bosnia & Herz. vs Qatar — Prediction

Both sides arrive on a point chasing third place and a faint best-third-place lifeline — Bosnia advance ahead of Qatar with a win or even a draw, Qatar must win — and the squad-quality gap plus a lopsided suspension list favour the hosts. The deciding factor is that Qatar lose two starters in defender Homam Ahmed and midfielder Assim Madibo after their red cards in the 6-0 collapse to Canada, weakening a side already winless in five and short on cutting edge, while Bosnia can feed a direct, set-piece game to the 40-year-old Edin Džeko. The caveats are real: Bosnia themselves looked blunt for long spells against Switzerland, they miss the suspended Muharemovic at the back, and Qatar held Switzerland to a draw — so this is a clear lean, not a rout. Bosnia's greater final-third quality and the draw being enough should see them control it.