40-year-old Dzeko will lead Bosnia and Herzegovina's new generation of players as captain in this year's World Cup. 18-year-old Alajbegovic has already become the new face of Bosnian football, and this cross-generational duo is highly anticipated.
40-year-old Dzeko, one of only two players remaining from Bosnia and Herzegovina's first World Cup appearance in 2014, will captain this young team and also play the role of a father figure within the squad. It is believed that this Bosnian team has the potential to make a strong impression in this tournament. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Alajbegovic has already become the new face of Bosnian football. After an excellent season with Salzburg, he has signed a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
Dzeko is Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time leading scorer, with 73 goals in 148 appearances for the national team. However, Dzeko stated that leading the national team's new generation of players forward is his motivation.
Dzeko said: "I am really happy to help these young players go to the World Cup. It's great for them, and they have a very bright future. Those last two games against Wales and Italy will definitely change their lives. They may not realize it now, but they will eventually understand. If you had asked me about 10 years ago if I would still be playing at 40, I would definitely have said no. But I feel good physically now, and more importantly, I still feel I can help the team. I am happy to be the captain of this great generation."