The spots would look like this, at the moment --- CL - Zeljeznicar EL - Siroki Brijeg, Borac Banja Luka Kup EL spot - (Velez??? Since Siroki, Borac, and Zeljeznicar would all have spots already.)
Due to the Kup having an EL spot on the line, I thought it would pass down onto us because we are next team after those three who don't have a spot in Europe already (at least at the moment).
Nah, mate, doesn't work like that. If the Kup finalists are both in the top three, the spot just passes down to fourth place. Velez need to finish at least fourth to have any hope of Europe and seeing that the team is struggling to win games and are 11 points behind that spot, it isn't going to happen this year.
Zeljo is going to CL Borac and Siroki to EL 4th place is a throwup between Sarajevo, Olimpic, and Zrinjski. Velez as the wild card. I'll be happy as long as it ain't Zrinjski.
What I hope for... CL - Zeljeznicar EL - Sarajevo, Olimpic, Siroki Brijeg What I expect... CL - Zeljeznicar EL - Siroki Brijeg, Borac, Sarajevo
If we can shock Siorki and defeat them, we might have a tiny shot at fourth, but no way we will get it as things currently look. And thanks for the information, Respekt.
After 22 rounds of play in the BiHPL, these would be the teams to represent Bosnia in Europe if the season ended today --- Champions League - FK Zeljeznicar Europa League - NK Siroki Brijeg, FK Sarajevo, and Borac Banja Luka Two Bosnians clubs, one Croatian, and one Serbian. Not as bad as I expected.
Siroki is a Bosnian Croat club, while Borac is a Bosnian Serb club. Zeljeznicar and Sarajevo are Bosniak clubs. They're all Bosnian though.
The teams would be like this after today - Champions League - FK Zeljeznicar Europa League - NK Siroki Brijeg and FK Sarajevo BiH 2011-12 Kup Europa League spot - Borac Banja Luka I really hope Olimpic Sarajevo can make the jump to fourth. And they are the only team with a real chance of jumping into the top four now. Other than that, everything should be same as it looks right now..
Siroki Brijeg will also officially be representing BiH at the EL 2012-13 qualifying. So now the final two spots to Europe are yet to be determined. The race for third is still pretty tight between Sarajevo and Borac, just two games to go and both sides will clash at Kosevo on the final day so it may well be the decisive match. Olimpic still have chances of going to Europe but most likely need to hope for Sarajevo not to get that UEFA license which will allow them to go into the Europa League this summer. It's likely to be the same four clubs from last summer representing BiH in Europe this summer again.
My expectations of each team who'll be representing us at the CL/EL stages are... (including Sarajevo/Borac Banja Luka ince they are both in the top four currently) Zeljeznicar - I think we (we being Bosnia as a whole) have shot at qualifying for a CL at the club stage with this current squad Zeljo produces. There is great talent here, it's a cohesive unit, and most of all, they know how to win. After winning the Dupla Kruna, their next goal is likely to be qualifying for the Champions League. If they were to do it, it would have to come with some preferable draws, good calls, but they really do have a nice chance at qualfying for at least the group stages. And, I believe the rules to the qualifying stages are that if a team loses out in the Play-Offs, they make it to the EL? Something like that... SO that would be a bonus, making it to the Champions League qualifying Play-Offs. Siroki Brijeg - In the BiHPL, Siroki did very well this season. Like Respekt said above, they are one of only two Bosnian teams to have already secured a spot in European qualifying for either the CL or EL. I think they can get to the second or third round if they work to their best capabilities. I don; think they can make it all the way though. Sarajevo - Sarajevo has done fairly well this season in their domestic league, although I am sure they thought they would be competing for the title this year. Anyways, they are likely to play in EL qualifiers, being in third place. If they contain that top four spot and do represent us there, I am sure they would at least make it to the second round. I have a feeling that they will get some Zeljo-like draws this year, spelling out their demise in Europe. I really hope this isn't the case... And if it were, I would be proud of making it to round two if I was a pitar. Borac Banja Luka - Borac, well, they would be the suckiest of the four to make Europe if they did at all. They were demolished in CL qualifying last year despite being placed first and becoming champions of the Premijer Liga. I feel that they are likely to pan out as a disappointment again this year, as well. But they do have a nice player in Sasa Kajkut. he was one of the top goal-scorers of the season having nine goals total (only two coming off penalties). If he plays well, they might have a shot at advancing further than the first round. of the Europa League qualifiers.
If the current sides in the table go to Europe, I predict; Zeljeznicar - CL 3rd qual. round/EL playoffs Siroki Brijeg - EL 3rd qual. round FK Sarajevo - EL 3rd qual. round Borac Banja Luka - EL 1st qual. round
Stickied thread. Zeljeznicar - CL - 2nd qualifying round -unseeded Siroki Brijeg - EL - 2nd qualifying round - unseeded FK Sarajevo - EL - 1st qualifying round - seeded Borac BL - EL - 1st qualifying round - seeded Zeljo needs to go thround 2nd round, 3rd round, and playoff (3 opponents) to get to group stage. If they lose in 3rd round, they enter play-off round in Europa League. If they lose in playoffs of CL, they get in group stage in Europa League. Sarajevo and Borac need to go through 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, and playoff (4 opponents) to get to group stage. Siroki Brijeg needs to go through 2nd, 3rd, and playoff (3 opponents).
You mean the qualifying draws? Zeljeznicar will find out their CL second qualifying round opponent on June 25. Borac, Sarajevo, and Siroki Brijeg will find out their EL first/second qualifying round opponents on the same day. Another month to go.
It's time for the Bosnian league to embarass itself on an international level again! Yay! So predictions please and favoured opponents go here if you insist on sharing. The bigger questions should be who gets knocked out by the largest aggregate scoreline? Who gets knocked out by some Azeri second division club? Who goes out to a club from North Africa acting as European? The draws are tomorrow at 12:00 CET (CL draw) and 13:30 CET (EL draw) by the way.
We've finally gotten some favorable draws in the first round. Zeljo has a decent chance against Maribor