SAN ANTONIO -- Three thoughts from Mexico's 1-0 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina on Wednesday at the Alamodome in El Tri's first game of 2018:

1. Experimental Mexico coast to victory

A Hugo Ayala header in the 65th minute earned the win for Mexico in front of 26, 867 in San Antonio to start El Tri's 2018 off on the right foot. But this wasn't a match that will live long in the memory.

The game lacked rhythm and cohesion from Mexico. It was perhaps natural that it should, given the inexperience...

CARSON, Calif. -- Balance is a major consideration whenever a manager puts together a roster or a starting XI. The coach has to weigh attack vs. defense, youth vs. experience and so on.

The stakes involved also play a part. The calculus is different for a friendly than, say, a World Cup qualifier, which brings us to Sunday's friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina, one that ended in a 0-0 tie.

Interim manager Dave Sarachan had spent the previous 18 days putting 29 players, most of them light on...

CARSON, Calif. -- The U.S. men's national team started 2018 with a tepid 0-0 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bill Hamid and Zack Steffen combined for a shutout, though it took Haris Medunjanin missing a second-half penalty to keep the visitors scoreless.

Here are three thoughts from a typically ragged January encounter.

1. It's that time of year

The circumstances surrounding this January camp were unique, to say the least. While it has historically been comprised almost entirely of MLS...

Bosnia and Herzegovina saw their World Cup dream quite literally go up in flames on Tuesday evening when, despite beating Estonia in their final qualifier, results elsewhere eliminated them from the running.

Indeed, Edin Dzeko and Co. needed Greece to succumb to an unlikely defeat against minnows Gibraltar, who themselves had yet to win a single point in Group H.

True to form, Greece cantered to a 4-0 in Piraeus that served to condemn Bosnia to their fate.

In response, their fans used a barrage...

Well now, Edin Dzeko. What exactly were you thinking here?

Nel frattempo Dzeko.. pic.twitter.com/1NKVLFGbxw

- CALCIATORI BRUTTI (@CB_Ignoranza) November 13, 2016

The incident occurred in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday, with Dzeko's Bosnia-Herzegovina leading 1-0 at Greece in the second half.

Dzeko fell down over the ball and -- taking objection to Sokratis Papastathopoulos standing over him -- the former Manchester City striker pulled the defender's shorts down to his knees.

Then in a finishing...

With World Cup 2018 qualifying beginning in Europe this week, Sasa Ibrulj takes a look at where the big Balkan nations currently standing heading into their opening games.K

Serbia: Big expectations for Muslin

Serbia had many memorable moments in their last qualifying campaign for Euro 2016, but none of them were positive and they are now hoping that the opening of qualification for World Cup 2018, with a game against Republic of Ireland on Monday, could represent a fresh start.

They have replaced...