Bosnia coach Safet Susic: Messi and stage fright led to our downfall

None of the Bosnian players were able to catch Messi

Bosnia coach Safet Susic claimed that stage fright and Lionel Messi were the two reasons why Bosnia couldn’t make too much of an impression in their first-ever World Cup game against Argentina, which they lost 2-1. Although the Bosnians rarely looked out of place amongst the pre-tournament favourites, a Sead Kolasinac own goal and a memorable Messi strike was enough to get all three points, even though Vedad Ibisevic pulled one back in the Group F game.

Susic said: “As I said yesterday the objective was to make it as difficult as we can for Argentina, the favourites to win the World Cup, and I think we played well in both halves. When you play Argentina you have to play well and also have a great deal of luck. It was only because of the psychological pressure that we looked as if we had run out of steam a little bit in the closing stages.”

Susic also hoped that the goal will be a harbinger of things to come and defended his decision to play defensive midfielder Muhamed Besic to man-mark Messi. "We hope that the goal we scored will mean a lot to us in the upcoming games. We will probably need to amass four or even six points to go through but I told the lads this wasn't the crucial match. I am convinced that we still have everything to play for.”

Susic also added that he had “no regrets" about the game and on playing Besic and leaving Ibisevic on the bench, he said: "It is difficult to play Messi or a player like him, I originally thought of man marking him but it is impossible. I gave him some freedom but instructed my players that the nearest one to him must close him down whenever he gets the ball.”

"And I don't regret at all leaving Ibisevic on the bench. We started two friendlies (before the World Cup) with the same formation and everything worked perfectly.”