Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez has stated his pragmatic approach for Tuesday’s World Cup play-off final against Italy, confirming he would have no qualms about “parking the bus” if his team secures a 1-0 lead. He also suggested that he would expect Italy to adopt similar defensive tactics if the scoreline were reversed.
The decisive World Cup play-off final will see Bosnia host Italy in Zenica on Tuesday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 19:45 BST. Italy advanced to this stage after a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, while Bosnia secured their place by overcoming Wales in a penalty shootout.
Despite their physically demanding semi-final that went into extra time, Barbarez assured the press that his squad is fully recovered and eager for the clash with Italy. “Everyone is fine apart from the coach, who has lost his voice,” Barbarez joked during his pre-match conference. “We’ve had time to recover. The game was challenging, but we’re happy. We hope to be able to hold on until the end.”
Addressing reporters’ suggestions that the Bosnia national team might be “too slow,” Barbarez dismissed external opinions, stating, “Preparing for the game includes analysing how to play. What matters is my players and how they play tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what others think or what others have said.”
Reflecting on the emotional penalty shootout victory against Wales, Barbarez acknowledged a key learning point: “The game against Wales was full of emotions. We had a lot of energy, and that was the biggest mistake. Now we feel smarter, and we won’t make the same mistakes again. Tomorrow is another day; whatever happens, you have to live with it.” He emphasized the profound significance of the match for both nations, noting, “There are so many feelings for Italy; it’s so important for them, but also for us. Given the situation in the country, it’s even more important.”
When asked about his assessment of the Italian national team, Barbarez outlined his strategy: “We will have to have courage and pay attention to the details, play at our best. We can’t create any panicked situations and might need a bit of luck to score a few goals.” He reiterated his tactical stance with a clear message: “If we score and it’s 1-0 for us, we’ll park the bus at one end of the pitch; otherwise, we’ll park it at the other end. Let’s start the game first. I’m happy to have made it this far. I feel and see the love that comes from these players.”
Finally, Barbarez indicated that he is unlikely to implement any significant changes to his team’s line-up or tactical setup for the decisive Italy match. “We’ve been playing with a consistent system for a year and a half,” he explained. “I don’t know if it’s the time for experiments.”
