Barbarez in Vienna: We want to beat the Austrians and go to the World Cup

(Patria) - The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina plays a decisive World Cup qualifier tomorrow, and coach Sergej Barbarez addressed the media tonight at a press conference in Vienna.

The Dragons beat Romania 3-1 on Saturday at the "Bilino Polje", which opened the door for our team to qualify directly for the World Cup.

Tomorrow, the BiH team will visit the "Ernst Happel" stadium in Vienna, where they will have a direct showdown with the Austrians for first place.

Only a victory will suffice for our team to qualify directly for the World Cup, and we have already secured a place in the playoffs.

Sergej Barbarez also spoke about tomorrow's match tonight at a press conference held at the "Ernst Happel" stadium.

At the beginning, Barbarez had a message regarding yesterday's tragedy in Mostar.

- First of all, I want to express my condolences to the family of the deceased Aldina Jahić on behalf of myself, the coaching staff, and the entire team. That news shook us, and we must loudly and clearly condemn all forms of violence as athletes, especially femicide - said Barbarez.

Then he turned his attention to tomorrow's match against Austria.

- Tactical discipline is important for every match, whether you play against the weakest or the best. We have played them once before, and we can learn a lot from that; we know them more or less, we have analyzed them. We want to use this confidence to try to win this match and go to the World Cup - said Barbarez.

Journalists asked him how many question marks there were about the lineup and what the situation was with Emir Karić's registration?

- Regarding the squad, everyone is ready. Tarik is ready; it wasn't even an injury. As for Emir, we are still waiting; as FIFA said, it must happen today. I believe it will be at the last minute when we have to submit the lineup for the match - said Barbarez.

As a player, you had two such matches in the national team that we didn't win; will this be the third time lucky?

"I am not important here at all; these guys are more important, and our country. Let everything else wait in line. I don't like to compare things because it was a different time and everything was different. Those things are history and should remain there. What's important is that we go out on the field tomorrow and do what we do there".

How much does the support of former coach Sušić and player Ibišević mean to you? How to compensate for the absences of Dedić and Katić?

- I rarely read our portals and news; I haven't read that, but it's encouraging when people are with us, former players and coaches, not just when things are good, but also in worse moments. They know how to feel this moment, and thank them for that.

Whoever is absent, we manage without them – we have to. There hasn't been a match since I've been coach that we haven't been missing 4-5 players, and it's the same now. I see in their eyes that they will give their all.

I don't treat this match as a bonus, but as a chance for the team, perhaps a life chance for some players to go to the World Cup. I see in them that they want everything and that they want to prepare and run onto the field at all costs".

You are aware that an army of fans will come who will be able to match the home crowd in this stadium. How much does their support mean to you, and that you don't feel like you are playing away?

- We saw in Zenica what that symbiosis means. It was phenomenal, and I saw some footage of how it looked. I don't go out during warm-ups, but I heard singing in the locker room, and I was happy about that. It just shows that people see what's happening with us.

It's incredible how happy we've made people, and that's why I do this job, to put a smile on someone's face. The result decides everything, but somehow I try to make it not always the priority, but the happiness and smiles of the people who love this country".

Does BiH have less to lose than Austria, and why are you angry at the Austrian Football Association regarding Karić?

"The Austrian association did not behave well. To deny a guy who wants to play for us – that's not OK. Austria is the favorite, but we want to prove ourselves and show it tomorrow".

By the way, tomorrow's match between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina starts at 8:45 PM.