The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is entering the final phase of its preparations for the World Cup with messages of optimism and self-confidence from the players’ camp, who emphasize that they respect every opponent, but are not afraid of any team. Midfielder Armin Gigović said that he feels physically and mentally ready after the end of the club season, emphasizing that he used the short break to recover and prepare for national team obligations. “I rested for a few days after the season. I feel good physically and mentally and I am ready for what awaits us,” Gigović told reporters in Sarajevo, where the national team is gathering for preparations.
He added that the atmosphere in the team is positive and that the arrival of almost all invited players contributes to quality preparations ahead of the friendly matches and the appearance at the World Cup.
“I am looking forward to this week together with the national team. Almost everyone has arrived and we are preparing for the friendly match and what awaits us in America,” he said.
Gigović particularly emphasized the importance of the fans’ support, after tickets for the upcoming matches were sold out, assessing that the large attendance brings additional energy to the team.
“Of course it means a lot to us. More people in the stadium creates a better atmosphere and makes everything more positive,” he said. Speaking about the ambitions for the World Cup, he said that the team must go game by game and that no opponent will be easy. “No game will be easy. We have to go step by step and then we will see what happens,” he emphasized.
His teammate Benjamin Tahirović had previously said that the national team has a great motive and a common goal, and that the team enters the tournament without fear. “We have respect for everyone, but we have no fear of any national team,” said Tahirović, adding that qualifying for the World Cup is a great success, but also the beginning of a new challenge. In the national team camp, they point out that the skeleton of the team has already been formed through previous competition cycles, while the coaching staff is working on the team’s integration and final tactical details.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team will play warm-up matches in the coming days before heading to the World Cup, where they will try to achieve a notable result in their first appearance at the world’s biggest football event. Sergej Barbarez’s team is preparing in Sarajevo ahead of a friendly match with North Macedonia in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 29, after which they will travel for final preparations and the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina will open their second appearance at the world’s best against hosts Canada. They will also face Qatar and Switzerland in the group, Anadolu Agency writes.
