Football player feature of the day Miralem Pjanić Bosnia and Herzegovina caps: 53 goals: 9 position: Midfielder club: A.S. Roma (ITA) He has been described as an old-fashioned playmaker with huge technical qualities. Pjanić is known for his technique, dribbling, creativity, and passing. A full Bosnian international since 2008, he represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Pjanić developed an interest in football through his father, a former third division football player in SFR Yugoslavia, and began his football career in Luxembourg following his familys arrival to the country shortly before the outbreak of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In an interview for a Bosnia and Herzegovinan newspaper, Pjanić insisted that he only wanted to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Eventually, officials in the Bosnia and Herzegovinan FA took notice and Pjanić was called up to the countrys under-21 team. However, because Pjanić no longer had a Bosnia and Herzegovinan passport and needed FIFA-approval to switch nationalities, he wasnt allowed call ups to the senior team. An eight-month ordeal took place amidst great media scrutiny. Finally, following the involvement of a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency Željko Komšić, Pjanić finally received a Bosnia and Herzegovinan passport in early 2008. Pjanić made his highly anticipated debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina on 20 August 2008 in the teams 2–1 loss to Bulgaria. On 3 March 2010, he scored his first international goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the teams 2–1 win over Ghana in Sarajevo. The game-winning goal was scored in the 65th minute with Pjanić finding the net from almost 30 meters out. He scored his second goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina against his former national team, Luxembourg, with a free-kick from 25 meters out. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Pjanić scored three goals and made four assists in nine appearances to help the Dragons qualify for their first ever FIFA World Cup. He was named in Bosnia and Herzegovinas squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, and started the teams first match, a 2–1 defeat to Argentina at the Estádio do Maracanã. On 25 June, during the final group match against Iran, Pjanić scored in a 3–1 victory to help Bosnia-Herzegovina to their first ever FIFA World Cup win.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 06:32:18 +0000
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