Barbarez ahead of Romania: It will be a very demanding match, but we have already shown we can beat them

(Patria) - Head coach of the BiH national football team Sergej Barbarez addressed the media today ahead of the World Cup qualifier match that the Dragons will play against Romania on Saturday at Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica.

Barbarez says he has not changed his opinion about the Romanian national team, which he considers an excellent and technically proficient team with great individuals.

- It will be a very demanding match in terms of running. We are playing at home, we have already shown once that we can beat them. I believe in the team and the players I have called up.

Most of our players are regulars in their clubs, which makes me happy. We will always focus on players who want to play for this national team - Barbarez emphasized.



He also added that he hopes all the players he has called up will be in good health and good form.

The head coach announced that 15 minutes before the press conference, he received bad news that Adrian Leon Barišić (player for Swiss club Basel) was injured.

- We hope everything goes as planned and that this week passes without any unexpected events, and that we will be ready to face Romania.

But I must also say that Barišić will not be ready because he got injured yesterday in a match - Barbarez noted, adding that Stjepan Radeljić (player for Rijeka) is not physically ready for this duel.

He also stated that the other players are in good health and should be ready for the upcoming matches, and that he will decide after training who he will count on for the match against Romania and who he will not.

- We are missing experienced players, but I like the approach and willingness, especially from the younger national team members - Barbarez points out.



He emphasized that in past matches there were problems in the midfield of the BiH national team, and that some players disappointed in terms of game vision and communication with teammates on the field.

- I am glad that Hadžiahmetović and Šarić are here, because both are experienced players and can bring us exactly what we need in the midfield - Barbarez added.

Among other things, journalists were interested in why he did not comment via social media on the issue of the fan group BH Fanaticos, who were previously denied tickets for the match against Romania.

Barbarez explained that he wanted to talk about it at the press conference and not on Instagram, and that the most passionate fans of BiH mean a lot to him.

- Sergej Barbarez loves his country, the national team, and the fans, especially the most loyal fans. That will be the case as long as I exist - the Dragons' head coach underlined.

The director of the BiH national team, Emir Spahić, also addressed the media, elaborating on this topic, emphasizing that the Football Association has secured 600 tickets for BH Fanaticos.



The match BiH - Romania is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, at the Bilino Polje stadium in Zenica. The Dragons will play the match against Austria in Vienna three days later.