Sergej Barbarez: Congratulations to my players for not succumbing to the pressure

Bosnia and Herzegovina's players were too passive and failed to capitalize on their chances, admitted head coach Sergej Barbarez after his side drew 1-1 with Canada in their opening Group B match of the World Cup, despite being content with the result.

"We conceded the initiative to the Canadians, playing with low blocks and primarily focusing on defense. However, both teams deserved a point, and the result is satisfactory," Barbarez told the media post-match.

Barbarez specifically praised his team for their performance in the face of a boisterous home crowd, who cheered every attack and every touch of the ball by the Canadian team.

"We played an opening match in front of a packed stadium, with 80% Canadian fans. This is immense pressure, and at the same time, it's a huge compliment to my team that they didn't succumb to it," the coach commented, as reported by BTA.

He also expressed hope that 40-year-old striker Edin Džeko, who was on the bench, would feature in the next match against Switzerland in Los Angeles. Bosnia will then conclude their group stage campaign with a fixture against Qatar.

A crucial clearance from veteran Sead Kolašinac prevented Canada from equalizing early in the second half. Barbarez highlighted the defender's experience, stating he expects such contributions from him. "I expect him to keep the whole team together, to lead them, and that's exactly what he did in a first-class manner," he added.

The coach was also inspired by the fighting spirit shown by his team and believes they will gain valuable experience from the match.

"I must congratulate the Canadian team. They were incredibly physically prepared, incredibly intense. They had a plan and knew how to execute it," Barbarez concluded.