Queiroz calling for cool heads
Friday 13 November 2009
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Carlos Queiroz leads Portugal training ahead of their play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina (©Getty Images)
Carlos Queiroz hopes that the "experience and maturity" of his Portugal players will ensure their fraught FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign ends in play-off success against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ronaldo out
Queiroz's side, without Cristiano Ronaldo for both legs due to an ankle injury, welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Estádio da Luz on Saturday knowing that while their opponents are on a high after their most successful campaign to date, Portugal only just squeezed into Group 1's runners-up berth. Now Queiroz expects the 2006 semi-finalists to live up to their reputation and clinch a ticket to South Africa. "We have to show our experience and maturity on the pitch," the coach said. "This seems to be the game of our lives. It will be very important that our players find the coolness of head to make this the match of their careers."
Opponents praised
Aided by inside information about VfL Wolfsburg club-mates Zvjezdan Misimović and Edin Džeko from defender Ricardo Costa, recalled after three years away, Queiroz knows Bosnia-Herzegovina – who finished above UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-finalists Turkey in Group 5 – present a formidable threat. "We are going to face a team we enjoy watching," he said. "They are strong in defence and have three players who can create goals all by themselves."
'One tough match'
Bosnia-Herzegovina, second only to European champions Spain in their section, have been preparing in the small Croatian resort of Novi Vinodolski. With Semir Štilić injured, two Zlatan Muslimović goals helped them beat a local club 5-0 in a warm-up game and captain Emir Spahić is willing his nation on to their first major finals. "I expect one tough match, and huge support from our fans," he said. "I believe this tie will be unpredictable until the end. It will be difficult, but I think if we all play at our desired level, we can get a positive result. We would be satisfied with a draw on Saturday."
Vow
Eternal optmistic Miroslav Blažević, the coach who has masterminded this run, recognises that his players will give their all. "Reaching the play-offs is already a great success for a small country like Bosnia-Herzegovina. We have one obstacle left and that is a fairly strong team. The home side are favourites, but favourites don't win all the time. I am sure of one thing, and that is that my players will leave their hearts on that pitch to delight the fans." The tie concludes in Zenica next Wednesday, 18 November.
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