Bosnia-Hercegovina coach Safet Susic said on Thursday he was disappointed with Portugal as their Euro 2012 playoff opponent but vowed that his team could secure their ticket for the championship.
"I was a bit disappointed at the begining, maybe because I was even a bit afraid. We all wanted to avoid Portugal," Susic told the national BHRT radio.
"But we will go and play and we have all arguments for hope.
"The two matches will be uncertain but I believe that we can eliminate them," he added.
The Bosnians, who came within 13 minutes of automatic qualification and forcing France into the playoffs, will enjoy home advantage for the home leg.
The two countries already played against each other in the World 2010 championship play-off in November 2009. At the time Portugal qualified.
"For me it's not Portugal that is the problem. It is rather the fact that we will play the first match without three players" who are regulars in defence, Susic said.
The three comprise Mensur Mujdza, injured during Tuesday's qualifier against France, as well as Boris Pandza and Sasa Papac, who both had yellow cards and are now suspended.
"So we will have to search for solutions to have a strong team in the fist match.
"But one has also to understand that it is not the same team as two years ago. We have midfielders who are capable of causing problems to anyone.
"And we also have Edin Dzeko, who is certainly the best striker in the world," the Bosnian coach concluded.
Source: AFP
