The head coach of the football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sergej Barbarez, spoke at the press conference after the Dragons’ 3:1 victory over Qatar in the match of the third round of Group B of the World Cup.
With this victory, Bosnia and Herzegovina secured third place in the group and almost certainly made it to the 1/16 finals, and Barbarez answered the question at the beginning of whether he expected the triumph as he expected.
“I don’t say for nothing that this is the World Cup. And that across from you is someone who has some quality and who wants to get you. I don’t know what kind of movie we are in and are able to dominate someone here. We came as outsiders to try to do something big. And that has now come true for us,” said Barbarez.
About Alajbegović’s performance?
“When you have an 18-year-old boy, he started with us when he was not of age, you can see the potential he possesses and those skills. It’s the most difficult thing to restrain such boys and give them a chance at the right time. He waited for it. The team’s huge field at the age of 18 to justify it. That’s why we’re here. We’re trying to do everything with him on time. To relieve him of pressure. And from our public. I mean good pressure, more precisely expectations. He on one side, Esmir on the other and Ermin. Both Tarik and Dedić. We have too many young players. I am convinced that this national team is just at the beginning and that the next championships will be theirs,” said Barbarez.
He also commented on the conceded goal at the end of the first half.
“It’s that phase when you dominate for 37, 38 minutes. I have to watch the game to see what happened in those five, six minutes before the end of the first half. There was a lack of interest in playing. It was always that if we had the ball, we wanted to play and that’s how we got the chances. You always look at the scoreboard, but the last five, six minutes before the end of the first half were certainly not up to par.”
Fan support?
“There is one – we are small, but there are many of us. I think that our diaspora has more inhabitants than our country. Especially in America there are our people. They are eager for their homeland, especially for contact with sports. For them, this is huge that we are here in America. What can they come to us, watch the games. An incredible number of us who do not even have three million. If you have 30,000 people in the stadium, that is fantastic. I repeat that I am the happiest person who can represent my to the state.”
The role of Edin Džeka?
“He always has the same role. There is no philosophizing. He is our biggest and best player. He still captures the attention of opposing teams. He is technically perfect and, after all, a scorer. He has proven that in his over 20-year career. Of course, our game is based on him. That was the case in this match as well.”
One of the biggest victories of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The players were more nervous than ever. And your reactions on the bench, especially when we were struggling. And a comment on the celebration of the fans in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
“There was a lot in the game. To make history, even though I don’t like that word. We have never qualified from the group. We still have to wait a bit, but we hope that will be it. As a coach, I want it to be better. Sometimes we don’t enter the duel bravely, or we are afraid to attack the opponent and the space. We go down to the low block, and that’s how Qatar’s goal fell. You don’t have action, but a reaction. That makes me angry in sports. That’s why there are sometimes some reactions.”, he points out. Barbarez.
How long do you plan to stay at the Worlc Cup?
“At least seven days,” Barbarez said with a smile.
About Mahmić’s goal and the yellow card?
“We know that cards are erased after the group stage and it was ok for him to get a yellow. I also heard that he shed a tear. It’s emotional for a guy who wasn’t with us until a few days ago. You can see that we had a good ‘nose’ there and that we recognized the situation in time. We’re looking forward to it. You have to be convinced of someone to appropriate him to play for you. He’s still young and needs time. But it shows that he’s a great player.”
He also said that after this duel the players will get two days of rest.
“I’m incredibly happy and calm. I’m not one to jump and sing. But I’ll be caught later. Maybe tonight or in the morning. We’ll take two days to rest. This is stressful for all of us. There’s no word to describe being here, representing my country and leading a team that I’m convinced is just getting started.”
How much will this victory mean for the confidence of the players? And Lopetegui said that BiH has two world-class players on the wings of Alajbegović and Bajraktarević. Will we play offensively like this in the future?
“I am happy with the reaction of the players. It was the same after Vienna and now after Switzerland. Young, but with a strong winning mentality. I admire that. That’s why I say that this is just the beginning for them. You have guys aged 18 and 21 who decide the match. They are a serious part of the team and our plan from the beginning is to start with Kerim and Esmir from the first minute.
We planned for them to be rested. That last game was the final for us. We played well almost the entire match. We could have finished the game earlier. We had a 2:0 goal, but we could have conceded a goal to make it 2:2. There are things that can be corrected in young guys. I’m glad I can spend some time showing them some things.”
The changes were good and at the right time. How did you see the Kolasinac game?
“Sejo is something special. The warrior character goes through his whole career wherever he plays. It is my biggest victory that older players have such a desire to continue their national team career. Knowing the problems with his injuries and his knee, you can see that it is still going on. But I am proud of how he played these games. When he takes the captain’s armband… I am overjoyed.
Changes? We always talk about plan B. I wouldn’t tell some stories here and after two matches they would know it’s not true. There were people for Ermin that he should play more after six minutes in the first game. That’s not my philosophy. Those guys need time to get to know the team better. We know what we have with them and we have to hit the right moment. They really showed up in the moments when it was needed.”
About a possible meeting with the USA in the round of 16?
“We will wait until all the matches are over. And to know if we are in and who we are playing with. This is a bonus for us and we will be relieved. We will try to create problems for any team. Try to win the match. We have the confidence and courage to attack everyone in playing terms. I am looking forward to every meeting. I am looking forward to the fact that I will stay in the USA for the next seven days, and then to the match,” concluded coach Barbarez.
