Messi's fear is the best compliment, we can pass the group!

Messi's sentence says it all, and he said „I was afraid until the last minute“, stated Miroslav Ćiro Blažević, former coach of BiH and Croatia, for the BiH news agency Patria (NAP), commenting on last night's match between BiH and Argentina. This is the biggest compliment we could have received, emphasizes Blažević, who was third in the world with Croatia.

- I am very proud of all our players. They played bravely, like men, against a renowned world champion. This goal by Ibišević, although it didn't have much significance for the final result, actually had great psychological significance – he says.

According to him, this performance is the reason why BiH players should gain the necessary confidence and solve the problem of Iran.

- It seems that Iran is the most serious opponent, better than Nigeria in my opinion. I coached Iran, I watched Nigeria closely, but I think BiH will advance to the second round. I know them well, if BiH continues with this spirit, with this audacity, but I mean positively, then they will have no problems with Nigeria or Iran. I am almost sure that we can pass the group – says Blažević.

When asked to compare the first appearances of BiH and Croatia, both teams defeated in the first round by the best South American teams, Blažević says that the chances of both teams are equal and good.

- BiH played with one capacity, almost one hundred percent, Croatia unfortunately had two players who did not deliver the expected performance. These are Rakitić and Kovačić. That's why I think Croatia has a chance to go further. Our chances are equal and truly great – he adds.

Blažević also noted the good performance of young BiH players, especially Muhamed Bešić, and adds that he expects them to continue like that.

- There will be more opportunities for many to assert themselves and for many to compromise themselves, if they are not smart enough to know that football is a job of permanent self-affirmation. If you played excellently today, and not the next one, then you have immediately compromised the first match. Bešić probably has insight into this phenomenon and I believe he will continue with his performances in order to definitively assert himself at this World Cup – he pointed out.

In any case, he adds, BiH has shown unity - one for all, all for one.

- If it weren't for that, they wouldn't have left such an impression against a quality opponent like Argentina – says the popular Ćiro for NAP.