After the game, coach Sergej Barbarez thanked the players for their efforts in the demanding October cycle.
“A little while ago I told the guys in the dressing room that everyone was fantastic and that they gave even more than what we expected. The tempo, pressing and what I like to call the volitional moment were at a fantastic level. We created that volitional moment together and that’s exactly what adorns us today. These guys don’t give up, they love to play and are eager for the ball like children. It’s not easy to change the system during the game, and we did it three times today and showed that we can play in different ways. Without struggling and fighting there are no results, and we proved that we know how to come back when it becomes the hardest. Ivan Bašić and Armin Gigović have been a revelation for us in these four games. We have returned not only to the way football is played for this country. The final goal is the European Championship, but we said internally that we would like to get one of the first two places. qualification. There are still six points in the game and we are going to win in the remaining two matches. We are especially looking forward to Sweden, because we know how many of our people will be in the stands.”
The scorer of the winning goal, Ivan Bašić, was satisfied with both the result and his personal game.
“I am overjoyed with the victory and my game. This was a demanding match, the field was not in the best condition, and maybe we were not at the highest level in the first half, but in the end it rewarded us. We looked like a team, as a whole, and our togetherness was crucial in four games in ten days. As the coach says, sometimes tactics don’t help, but that’s when togetherness comes to the fore. This victory means a lot for the atmosphere. We remain in the race for first place, there are still more to come. two games and we will do our best.”
Nikola Katic, who stopped the ball on the goal line in the first half, emphasized the importance of the victory against Poland.
“This is an important victory against a renowned team, in the fourth game in ten days, which is a serious success and a big step towards our goal. On the field, we feel that we are growing, and the results confirm it. It’s all a process, we have many young players. As the coach says, when we add up our performances compared to other national teams, we are far behind. The team is under construction and there will be worse games, but that is also part of the process – not everything is a straight line. This victory boosted our confidence before November. Eight points from four games against teams belonging to League A Nations will give us a boost for the two remaining games.”
Tarik Muharemović, one of the best players of the match, dedicated the victory to the team.
“This is a huge and crucial victory for our next step, especially considering the standings and point tally in the group. We played a superb match, but none of this would have been possible without my brothers on the pitch. Nikola Katić, Sead Kolašinac, Stjepan Radeljić, and Martin Zlomislić – I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I love playing with these guys because you can see how we fight for one another, and that is exactly how we must continue. Fatigue set in towards the end, as it isn’t easy playing four matches in 11 or 12 days against quality opponents. It is only natural that mistakes happen under such circumstances; we will work on them, but the three points and the fact that we wrapped up this period with a big win are what matter most. It is truly wonderful spending time with these guys and the entire coaching staff, and we always look forward to our get-togethers. Every day, as we head from the hotel to the bus, children are waiting for us, calling out our names. I, too, was once that boy who would go to the hotel to watch the players who were my idols. I hope we are presenting ourselves in the best possible light today, and I will always be there – especially for the children.”
