Kodro: We need to restore the cult of the national team

(Patria) - The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team has a new head coach, and today selector Meho Kodro, NFSBiH president Vico Zeljković, and national team director Zvjezdan Misimović addressed the media.

Zeljković said that this is an important day for Bosnian football.

"As we know, we were left without a coach and had to react quickly. We worked all summer. We didn't want to play around with names too much, because that's not fair. We managed to finalize the deal, and the NFSBiH Executive Board, on the proposal of director Misimović, chose Kodro as the coach. I am glad we reached an agreement and that we continue the qualifiers," said Zeljković.

He emphasized that there is no giving up on the goal, which is qualification for the European Championship.

"Some things don't go according to plan, sometimes they do, that's how it is in football as well. We didn't start well in terms of results and we found ourselves in the situation we are in. The Nations League was good, the qualifiers didn't start well, and we are trying to learn lessons and not repeat mistakes," said Zeljković.

New/old coach Kodro said that he believes in his quality and that he will assemble a good coaching staff.

"We want the team to play quality football, and I have confidence in our players. We have the quality to go to the European Championship regardless of the problems we are facing. The situation is what it is, and I think we can turn things around, and that is realistic to expect."

Kodro believes confidence has been shaken.

"It is important to restore the shaken confidence of the players and to restore public trust in the national team, and I think these are things that should go hand in hand. We need to restore the cult of the national team. There have been situations when the national team was shaken, but now we are in a position where expectations are not high, and perhaps that can be a motivation for the players. Everything can change in the next two or three matches."

Kodro also stated that he has not yet had contact with the players and that he will do so with the coaching staff, while there could be new names on the list. The new coach emphasized that he does not like to be compared to previous coaches and that organization is very important for a good result.

"From the first period on the national team bench, I carry experience. Now the conversations were more serious and mature. We talked about concrete things and I saw that the situation is nowhere near what it was before. The goal is common. I think I can be here, that it's the right time, and I believe we can do a good thing now. The form must be consistent, it is also important how players play in their clubs. I know what the situation was like in Bosnian clubs before, now it's a bit better, and I think there are players in the Premier League of BiH who must be seriously monitored. Whoever deserves it from the domestic league will certainly be called up," Kodro concluded.