Selector and Dragons after draw with North Macedonians: Let it be right at the World Cup

(Patria) - The football teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia drew goalless tonight in a friendly match played at the packed Sarajevo stadium "Asim Ferhatović Hase".

https://nap.ba/post/bez-golova-na-kosevu-30000-hiljada-navijaca-dostojanstveno-ispratili-zmajeve-na-mundijal

Bez golova na Koševu: 30.000 navijača dostojanstveno ispratili Zmajeve na Mundijal

Zaista spektakularnim prizorima svjedočili smo večeras na Koševu.

About the match, which was attended by more than 30,000 fans in the stands of the largest stadium in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the selector of the Dragons, Sergej Barbarez, gave his impressions.

- A typical friendly match. We wanted to try many things. I have understanding for the players, a couple of them came back from injuries and are not at the level they need to be.

We had three debutants and some players played with a teammate for the first time. I am sorry about Osman Hadžikić's injury, he was supposed to play the second half. It doesn't look good, he grabbed his hamstring, but there will be a scan tomorrow so we will know more.

I warned the players not to underestimate the atmosphere. As beautiful as it can be, it can also go in the other direction. We trained harder this week, and we saved some players, like captain Džeko and Šunjić.

There is great euphoria in the country, we asked for that, but for some players it can be difficult. They are too young for some things like this, but we try with experience to tell them some things and prepare them for everything that awaits them in the coming days.

Of course, people should enjoy. We deliberately chose to spend these first seven days in Sarajevo, to give our fans a little more joy - said Barbarez.

Nidal Čelik made his debut for the Dragons tonight. He says it was his debut at his favorite stadium.

- I am proud to have become a member of this national team and I hope this is just the first of many matches in the jersey of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The result is not what we wished for, but we saw where we need to improve. Before leaving for the USA, we will do an analysis of the good things, but also those that need to be fixed - said Čelik.

Samed Baždar had several good goal-scoring opportunities in the first half, but the net remained untouched.

- I had a chance twice, but... We controlled the match from the start, had possession and chances which unfortunately we didn't use. Let it be right at the World Cup.

From the very start, the plan was to share the minutes. Panama awaits us, certainly a good opponent, and we need to get used to the time and time difference in the USA.

We go into every match fully, whether it's friendly or competitive. Thank you to the fans for their support. An incredible feeling for me and my teammates. I hope that from match to match we will continue to celebrate together - added Baždar.