Lead by coach Sakib Malkočević, BIH cadets were close to the European Championship several times, but the success somehow always eluded them.  However, that's no longer the case because this season has brought great results for our U-17 team, who became the first Bosnian youth football team that qualified for the European Championship which will be held in Azerbaijan from 5-21 of May this year.

After beating the tournament host Georgia 2-1 in the first Elite qualifying round, and Italy 1-0 in the second, our cadets faced Russia today. Our team lost 2-1 to them but that was enough to secure a place at the European Championship.

In the other Group 3 match today, Italy beat Georgia 1-0. Three teams have finished the tournament with six (6) points, but due to a better goal difference, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina will advance to the final tournament. Russia ended third, while Georgia finished last without points.

This historic success was made possible by coach Sakib Malkočević, his assistants Damjan Ratković and Adin Mulaosmanović, goalkeeper trainer Nenad Džidić, doctor Edin Kulenović, physical therapist Mirza Kabil, kit manager Fuad Kečo, coordinator Murat Jaha, and of course an exceptional generation of players: Filip Vasilj, Filip Dujmović, Saša Perić, Nikola Vuletić, Amar Beširević, Predrag Vladić, Milan Mirić, Amir Velić, Rijad Sadiku, Jasmin Čeliković, Stefan Kovač, Anel Šabanadžović, Demirel Veladžić, Ševkija Resić, Nedim Hadžić, Tomas Dadić, Ergin Mehuljić, Benjamin Hadžić, Edis Smajić, Benjamin Mušija, Luka Knežević, Nermin Hajdarević, and Amar Ragipović. All of them made their special, individual contribution to this journey towards Euro.

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Russia 1-2

Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi 2, Tbilisi

Referees: Ferenc Karako, Theodoros Georgiou, Giorgi Elikashvili and Georgi Vadachkoria

Goals: 0-1 Stanislav Latsevich (12'), 1-1 Nedim Hadžić (25'), 1-2 Vyacheslav Grulev (66')

Yellow cards: Artem Gorbulin, Stanislav Latsevich (Russia)

Red card: Stanislav Latsevich (Russia)

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Filip Vasilj, Amar Beširević, Jasmin Čeliković, Amir Velić, Ševkija Resić (63' Saša Perić), Stefan Kovač, Demirel Veladžić (77' Anel Šabanadžović), Benjamin Hadžić, Nedim Hadžić (80' Nikola Vuletić), Rijad Sadiku, Predrag Vladić / Coach: Sakib Malkočević

Russia: Matvei Safonov, Aleksandr Zakharov, Artem Golubev, Sergei Borodin, Osman Isaev (61' Denis Patsev), Daniil Utkin, Magomed Suleymanov (65' Mikhail Yakovlev), Aleksandr Rudenko (48' Ivan Ignatyev), Stanislav Latsevich, Vyacheslav Grulev, Artem Gorbulin / Coach: Sergei Matveev