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US defender Dest hopes World Cup opponent Bajraktarević regrets choosing Bosnia
🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

US defender Dest hopes World Cup opponent Bajraktarević regrets choosing Bosnia

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • U.S. defender Sergiño Dest will face his PSV Eindhoven teammate Esmir Bajraktarević when the U.S. plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup.
  • Bajraktarević, born in Wisconsin, chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, his parents' homeland, after playing for U.S. youth teams.
  • Dest expressed hope that Bajraktarević would regret his decision after the match.

U.S. defender Sergiño Dest is set to face his PSV Eindhoven teammate Esmir Bajraktarević when the United States plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup's round of 16. The match, scheduled for Wednesday in Santa Clara, carries personal significance for both players who faced difficult decisions regarding their international allegiances.

He is a good, technically gifted player. He also had to choose between the USA and Bosnia. He chose the other side, but I hope he will regret that decision after Wednesday.

— Sergiño DestDest commented on his PSV teammate Esmir Bajraktarević's decision to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bajraktarević, who was born in Wisconsin, opted to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country of his refugee parents, after previously playing for U.S. youth national teams. Dest, born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese-American father, chose to play for the United States in 2019.

Dest admitted he had not spoken with Bajraktarević about the upcoming match. "He is a good, technically gifted player. He also had to choose between the USA and Bosnia. He chose the other side, but I hope he will regret that decision after Wednesday," Dest stated.

I think we are a different team now. In the last few years we have progressed a lot, as we showed in the first games. We are all a bit older, have more experience, better chemistry, and are mentally better prepared.

— Sergiño DestDest discussed the U.S. team's development and preparedness for the upcoming match.

The U.S. team resumed full training on Sunday after a 3-2 loss to Turkey in their final group stage match. Dest, one of 13 players from the current squad who also participated in the 2022 World Cup, believes the team has progressed significantly. "I think we are a different team now. We have progressed a lot in the last few years, as we showed in the first games. We are all a bit older, have more experience, better chemistry, and are mentally better prepared," he added.

It's an opportunity to change focus and concentrate on Wednesday's game.

— Folarin BalogunBalogun spoke about the importance of rest and refocusing for the next match.

Forward Folarin Balogun, who has scored two goals in the tournament, highlighted the importance of the psychological rest provided by Saturday's day off. "It's an opportunity to change focus and concentrate on Wednesday's game," Balogun said, emphasizing his ability to handle the pressure of major matches: "It's just another game, an important game, but it's something I personally enjoy."

It's just another game, an important game, but it's something I personally enjoy.

— Folarin BalogunBalogun described his approach to playing in high-pressure matches.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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