Bosnia Coach Rues Passive Play in Canada Draw, Satisfied with Result

Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez expressed frustration with his team's passive approach after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Canada in their World Cup Group B opener. "We left the initiative to Canadians, and we were playing in low blocks, and we were defensive," Barbarez told reporters.

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We left the initiative to Canadians, and we were playing in low blocks, and we were defensive.

The match saw Bosnia take an early lead through Jovo Lukic's header, his first international goal. However, a spirited second-half performance from the World Cup co-hosts, Canada, led to a late equalizer by striker Cyle Larin. Despite the missed opportunity to secure a win, Barbarez stated that both teams deserved the point and found the result satisfactory.

Barbarez reserved particular praise for his players' ability to withstand the intense pressure of the raucous Canadian home crowd. "You were playing an opening match in front of the full stadium, it was a full house, and there were 80 percent of Canadian supporters. This is huge pressure, and it's a huge compliment for my team to have not succumbed to that pressure," he said.

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You were playing an opening match in front of the full stadium, it was a full house, and there were 80 percent of Canadian supporters. This is huge pressure, and it's a huge compliment for my team to have not succumbed to that pressure.

The coach also highlighted the experience of veteran defender Sead Kolasinac, whose sharp goal-line clearance denied Canada an equalizer early in the second half. "I expect him to hold the whole team together, to lead the team, and this is what he has done today in a top-notch way," Barbarez said of Kolasinac. He also acknowledged the physicality and intensity of the Canadian team, complimenting their execution of their game plan.

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I expect him to hold the whole team together, to lead the team, and this is what he has done today in a top-notch way.