England 2 – 5 Bosnia – Match Report
Jake Barnes’ first international goal ensured that England’s final home group game of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 qualification stage ended on a high note, as The Lions lost 5-2 to Bosnia & Herzegovina at Loughborough University’s Sir David Wallace Sports Hall on Tuesday night.
Inside the final minute, the 22-year old Manchester winger pounced on a loose ball and lashed home to send the 585 watching supporters into frenzy.
“It’s a really proud moment for me, especially with my family watching. I’m buzzing!”, said Barnes.
It was a goal, and celebration, that told the tale of this England side’s last four months together. A newly-formed group that has blazed a trail for the next generation of English futsal.
From Bosnia in December to Toledo on Friday night, and three special nights in front of a home crowd at Loughborough, England have shown bravery and signs of a promising future against some of Europe’s finest.
Ultimately, it was a game that Bosnia never looked like losing, but had Russell Goldstein converted his penalty inside the opening minute it might have gone differently.
Early scare aside, the visitors assumed control of the game, utilising their fly goalkeeper system expertly to ensure England could not grasp any momentum.
Barnes admits that defending fly is a challenge these players do not often face:
“We’re not used to it playing in the NFS (National Futsal Series), it doesn’t happen that much, especially with that quality…it’s a learning curve and we can only get better from here.”
Goalkeeper Darko Milanovic scored his first after three minutes, poking a deflected effort beyond Joe Payne and on ten minutes Bosnia’s lead was doubled, as a corner was scooped out for Milos Todoric to volley into the bottom corner.
After an admirable but energy-sapping display against Spain on Friday night, the Bosnians’ physicality proved too much for England as they struggled to find a first-half foothold in possession.
Ryan Walsh and Harry Tozer both had chances as England ended strong, but a wonderful Josip Sesar strike delivered a sucker punch on the stroke of half-time to give Bosnia a commanding 3-0 lead.
England battled hard in the second period and were able to express themselves despite Bosnia’s clinical passing and well-organised press.
Captain Stuart Cook twice went close whilst Tozer saw another close range effort blocked after good work from Sam McGrath to win the ball high.
In just his second senior international appearance, Tom Uniatowicz looked accomplished, defending diligently and moving well to support teammates on the ball. One piece of first-half control in particular, killing a high ball with his left foot, demonstrated the 20-year old’s confidence and technical quality.
Bosnia scored their fourth, another deflected effort from Milanovic, after 30 minutes but England were not going to let their fans go home empty handed.
Jordan Edge produced a piece of true brilliance late on as he combined smartly with Cook down the right-hand side, rolled smoothly inside the first defender, pirouetted past a second and jinked round a third, only to see his shot smothered by the on-rushing Bosnian keeper denying what would have been a truly special goal.
Edge then almost turned provider when he played an incisive diagonal ball to Cook at the back post who couldn’t quite direct his effort goalwards.
An astounding goal line clearance from England’s youngest player, Jamie Brooker, to keep it at four only added to the rising atmosphere inside the game’s final quarter. As the Bosnian pivot rounded Payne and looked set to roll into an empty net, the 19-year old Bloomsbury fix appeared from nowhere to block his path from a yard out.
But it was Cook and Goldstein, two of England’s senior stars, who combined to make it 4-1 with three minutes remaining. A fitting moment for the pair, who had both received their silver England caps before the game to mark 50 international appearances.
It was shortly after, to make it 4-2 and give the England fans a glimmer of hope, that Barnes delivered the moment he deserved. Having minutes earlier hunted down and tackled a Bosnian player to the delight of the Sir David Wallace, he burst through on goal and finished emphatically into the bottom corner.
The entire crowd rose in unison and roared as the net rippled and Barnes punched the air:
“I just remember it falling to me somehow and I just thought yeah, I’ll open the hips up and put it bottom left!”.
Bosnia would score once more as England left their goal unattended in search of an unlikely comeback, but Brooker, Goldstein, Barnes and co had ensured that as the final whistle blew, the focus was on what is to come from this developing England team rather than the result.
It’s been a home season that has shown newcomers what international futsal is all about and reminded existing fans of its allure. With one final trip to Switzerland in April, who were defeated 5-1 at Loughborough in December, England will be confident of ending their UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 qualification campaign in style. Jake Barnes certainly is:
“It’s a must win game. I think we’ve really grown as a team [since the last Switzerland game], the details are a lot finer. I’m expecting us to put on a strong performance and really have something to write home about!”.
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