Mexico coach Miguel Herrera was angered Tuesday by last-minute changes made by Bosnia to their starting lineup for a World Cup warm-up friendly at Soldier Field.
"It is not right that these cheaters come out with a lineup different from the one they had submitted," Herrera said after the European side defeated his team 1-0 with a goal from Izet Hajrovic.
Based on the starting lineup presented by Bosnian coach Safet Susican hour before the match, Herrera said he had prepared his side to face a team including Sead Kolasinac, Ognjen Vranjes and Anel Hadzic.
Instead, Zvjezdan Misimovic, Sejad Salihovic and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko took the field for kick-off.
"In the World cup they won't be able to do this," said Herrera, who added that he had given his team instructions in their pre-game talk based on the earlier lineup.
Herrera reserved some of his ire for the Guatemalan officiating crew led by Oscar Reyna.
"If the refs had stood up to this they would not have allowed the game to start," he said.
The defeat ended Mexico's eight-game unbeaten streak under Herrera, whose bigger concern going forward toward Brazil will surely be a lack of offensive punch.
Although he said he "liked the attitude" of his team in the second half, he added "we have to be much more practical and intelligent".
Mexico have one more friendly before they head to Brazil, taking on Portugal at Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Friday.
Source: AFP
