It was all looking so good for Bosnia. One up against France and they were on the verge of winning their group and securing automatic qualification to their first major football tournament. They had come agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, their campaign coming to an end one cold November night in Zenica as Deco scored for Portugal.
But it wasn't to be. Bosnia gave away a penalty, France equalised and won the group. Bosnia were heading for the play-offs again, to play Portugal again on what is bound to be another cold November evening. Its all a bit deja vu. But this time Serbia haven't qualified. Which means that this time, for the first time, the Bosnian Serbs (about 40% of the Bosnian population) might support Bosnia.
The Bosnians Serbs have by and large supported Serbia since the break up of Yugoslavia, shunning the poorly performing Bosnian national team (in the same vein the Bosnian Croats have tended to support Croatia). With Serbia flying high in world football, there has been no reason for the Bosnian Serbs to identify with their own national team. In fact, with the memory of the recent bloodshed still fresh, many chose to support whoever it was playing against Bosnia.
In November 2009, with World Cup qualification almost within the Bosnians' grasp, there was a palpable sense of change. For the first time the Bosnian Serbs wanted Bosnia to do well. Perhaps November 2011 will witness their whole hearted support and a rare moment of unity in this still divided country.
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