Bosnia start the preparations for their first ever World Cup appearance by taking on Ivory Coast in St Louis, Missouri, with the Elephants also hoping to impress in their first warm-up game.

After missing out on last two major tournaments by losing in the play-offs, the Dragons finally managed to secure automatic qualification berth, having pipped Greece to the first place in their group.

Bosnia thus secured their first ever appearance at the tournament finals and Safet Susic’s side are now looking to make the most of this opportunity.

The boss has served up some surprises when naming his provisional 24-man squad, with Anel Hadzic and Tino Susic included despite earning just one cap each in the past.

Bosnia have a decent chance of progressing from the group stages having been placed alongside Argentina, Iran and Nigeria, but the match against Ivory Coast will tell us if they have the quality to perform at the highest level.

And with their opponents likely to play with a second-string line-up, Bosnia have been made 2.70 (17/10) favourites to emerge victorious.

Defender Ervin Zukanovic is missing as he was not granted a US Visa, while Senad Lulic and Ermin Bicakcic remain injury doubts.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Begovic – Mujdza, Spahic, Vranjes, Kolasinac – Medunjanin, Pjanic, Hadzic, Salihovic – Dzeko, Ibisevic.

Ivory Coast once again failed to prove their worth at the Africa Cup of Nations, crashing out in the quarter-finals at the 2013 tournament, but the Elephants had no problems qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

After topping their qualifying group in front of Morocco, Sabri Lamouchi’s charges defeated Senegal in the play-offs to qualify for their third straight World Cup.

There were no major surprises in the provisional World Cup squad, with star players Zokora, Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Drogba and Kalou making the cut.

Ligue 1-based footballers Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro and Ismael Diomande are the only uncapped players in the squad and they are expected to feature against Bosnia.

Even if Sabri Lamouchi has hinted he will rest his star players in this match, you should know away win pays 2.80 (9/5).

The likes of Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony and Salomon Kalou could all be rested, but Kolo Toure and Sol Bamba should start.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Sayouba Mande – Akpa-Akpro, K. Toure, Bamba, Angoua – Romaric, Zokora, Gosso – Gradel, Drogba, Sio.