Dzeko leaves the national team and makes the whole of Bosnia cry: farewell to the greatest of all time, with a goal ruled out by VAR

The end of an era, an unrepeatable cycle, a legend. Edin Dzeko had announced it and tonight, against Sweden, he wore the Bosnia and Herzegovina shirt for the last time, at Zenica's Bilino Polje stadium, fatal for Italy and decisive for the greatest Bosnian footballer in history as he secured the second and last World Cup of his career. A painful decision, taken at the age of 40 and after 151 caps: a goal ruled out by VAR and a standing ovation when he went off.

The farewell

In an intimate message full of gratitude and emotion, the Swan of Sarajevo shared his farewell words on social media: "Sometimes I wondered when this moment would come... But I never imagined how emotional I would be writing these words. On 2 October, against Sweden, I will play my last match for our national team. Nothing in my career has ever compared to the pride I felt every time I wore that shirt. Nothing. It was my childhood dream, a dream I carried with me in every one of the 151 occasions on which I had the honour of representing my country on a football pitch. I was always proud to do it, just as I was the first time. Almost twenty years have passed since that match against Turkey. Many things have changed, and I have changed too, but my love for this shirt never has. I now feel that the time has come to take a step back. If I have reached the age of 40 with the national team, it is because I truly gave everything I had. Every time. Everything. Playing for my nation has been the most exciting opportunity football has ever given me. The feeling I had that evening against Wales, and then in Zenica against Italy in March, will remain in my heart forever. Seeing my people celebrate in the streets of our cities was another incredible gift football gave me. There will be time to thank everyone who stood by my side and supported me during this wonderful journey. For now, I hope they will be there that evening against Sweden, so we can share one more emotion... Because each of these incredible experiences was something we lived through together. And this is how I want to live my last night representing my country: with all of you by my side, wearing the shirt I have loved since I was a boy - and the shirt I will love for the rest of my life."

The symbol

Edin Dzeko, now at Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, embodies the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The former Roma and Inter player was not just their most prolific scorer, the man for the big goals and the captain, but also the face of redemption for an entire people . Raised among the rubble and sirens of 1990s Sarajevo, his journey as a man and a footballer came to embody the dignity and desire for rebirth of a wounded nation. When Bosnia sealed their historic qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, still the high point in the history of Bosnian football up to 2026, he was there leading the line, just as he was last March in Zenica against the Azzurri.

The farewell and the disallowed goal

In the 11th minute against Sweden, the supporters' group "BH Fanaticos" gave an ovation and unveiled a choreographed display in tribute to the number 11 shirt that Dzeko wore throughout his international career. A shame about the goal VAR disallowed in the first half, which could have sealed the farewell, though it was still marked by a standing ovation from the whole stadium and the opponents when he left the pitch in the 62nd minute. The Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina urged all spectators not to leave the stadium straight after the match: the full official ceremony, including a guard of honour, the presentation of tokens of appreciation and some surprises, took place only after the final whistle. A major humanitarian campaign, organised in collaboration with the association Pomozi.ba also gave the evening a special touch. Fans were invited to bring a soft toy to the stadium: only after the match, when the stadium announcer gave the signal and the captain began his lap of honour, did they throw the soft toys from the stands as he greeted the crowd, before they were donated to children's homes throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina