The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team will gather in Sarajevo today to begin preparations for their final two Nations League matches, against Sweden and Romania. Speaking to reporters, head coach Sergej Barbarez confirmed that all players are healthy and expected to arrive for the gathering today.
He expressed satisfaction with the players’ current form and stated that his goal is to secure a victory in Sweden.
“I am certainly very pleased with how we responded in the previous four matches and how the players have maintained their form at their respective clubs. My wish—for everyone to be a regular starter for their club—is gradually being fulfilled. Now, we will see how the preparations unfold. Everyone is healthy and will be present for the gathering today. The first two or three days will be dedicated to recovery, followed by work on our tactical plan. My focus right now is solely on that first match; we want to achieve our objective—continuing on the same path we’ve been on—and we aim to win,” said Barbarez.
He noted that his minimum goal at the start of the Nations League was to secure second place, which would ensure a more favorable draw for the upcoming qualifiers; a win in either of the next two matches would be sufficient to achieve this.
However, Barbarez emphasized that he does not intend to play it safe with calculations, aiming instead for a victory in Sweden.
Regarding the forwards, Barbarez remarked that he faces a “pleasant dilemma” due to the excellent form of his players. In defense, however, he will be forced to make changes, as he will be without reliable center-back Tarik Muharemović, who is suspended due to an accumulation of cards. However, Barbarez points out that he has already been forced to make changes to both the lineup and the formation, yet the team has performed well.
“We’ll see during training; all five center-backs are fit. We’ve made quite a few changes over these four matches—there were injuries, and it hasn’t been easy, but we’ve played well. We’re reaching a stage where I have to make certain decisions—and I can do so with a smile,” said the head coach.
Regarding Amar Dedić, Barbarez notes that the Newcastle United full-back is in excellent form and is a vital asset to the team; he is pleased that Dedić is available to bolster the right flank.
He also expects strong support from the fans in Sweden, adding that he would be delighted if the atmosphere were similar to the one in Vienna against Austria.
The match against Sweden is scheduled for November 14 in Solna, while the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team will host Romania in Zenica on November 17 for the final round.
After four rounds, Sweden leads with ten points, followed by BiH with eight, Poland with four, and Romania, who have yet to earn a point.
Follow all of the “Dragons'” Nations League matches exclusively on BHRT, Fena writes.
