Baždarević: We are preparing for two matches, and Cyprus is extremely important

With today's gathering in Brussels, the preparations of the national football team for the qualifying matches against Belgium and Cyprus for the 2018 World Cup officially begin. At the hotel „Dolce la Hulpe“ where our team is staying, work has been ongoing since morning. The coaching staff is in the meeting room analyzing how much each player played over the past weekend, and today's first training session after the gathering will be held at 5:30 PM, announced the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Patria reports.

Coach Mehmed Baždarević leaves nothing to chance; everything is ready for the arrival of the players, with only Milan Đurić and Toni Šunjić expected to be late. 

- For now, we have no news; everyone was on the field, and regarding arrivals and injuries, we have no bad news for now. I hope that by the end of today, or by this evening, everyone will be here except for Milan Đurić, who has private obligations, and Toni Šunjić, who is playing tonight. Tomorrow at 12 o'clock we will be complete, and I hope we will be able to do everything we planned and be ready on Friday for what we are here for - says Baždarević.

Regarding the work plan, Baždarević says the team is preparing for two matches.

- Well, we also have to think about what awaits us after Belgium. Our goal is first to bring all players to the same level in terms of recovery, because some played on Friday, others on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. So by Wednesday, everyone must be at the same level, rested  and ready to execute the tactical plan we have prepared, which of course I won't discuss now. What is specific is that we play two matches very close together, and we must prepare for the first one and think about the match against Cyprus, which is extremely important.

Football connoisseurs know that Belgium is one of the best national teams, and that Mehmed Baždarević's selected players will not have an easy task. 

- This is an extremely quality opponent, one of the best teams in the world. They are capable of creating problems and scoring goals from two chances. It is up to us to play a good match, complete on a technical and tactical level. The difference can also be made by desire and great fighting spirit. Everyone's obligation is to give their maximum; it won't be easy, but if we give our all, the result will not be absent.