Bosnia-Herzegovina lost just once in qualifying, and claimed a point more than Wales managed in their eight games, but still finished two points adrift of Group H winners Austria.
They were 13 minutes away from clinching a spot at the World Cup, but Michael Gregoritsch’s equaliser for the Austrians ensured the pair drew in the final game of qualifying and Ralf Rangnick’s team topped the group.
Wales have failed to beat the Bosnians in four attempts but did have a memorable defeat against Zmajevi – the Dragons – as they qualified for Euro 2016 under Chris Coleman despite losing.
As his country’s all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player, former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, now at Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia-Herzegovina’s standout player.
The 39-year-old was his team’s top scorer in qualifying with five goals.
And finally, we have Republic of Ireland.
Having taken just one point from their opening three qualifiers, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side surged into the play-offs with successive wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.
Troy Parrott netted both goals against Euro 2016 winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the third goal coming in the 96th minute – as the Irish stunned Hungary to take second spot in Group F in dramatic fashion.
Talisman Seamus Coleman played a vital role in his side’s resurgence while Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the number one jersey his own.
The Republic of Ireland are winless in their past four meetings with Wales, losing three of those, although James McClean broke the hearts of the Red Wall as Martin O’Neill’s men won a crucial World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.
