Bosnia and Herzegovina was passive and did not take its chances, coach Sergej Barbarez said, after Canada was held to a 1-1 draw in the World Cup opener in Group B, although he was pleased with the result.
Bosnia took the lead in the match thanks to striker Jovo Lukic’s header, his first international goal. But a spirited second-half performance from the World Cup co-organisers resulted in a late equalizer from striker Cyle Larin.
“We left the initiative to the Canadians, and we played in low blocks, and we were defensive,” Barbarez told reporters.
However, both teams deserved the point and the result was satisfactory, he said.
Barbarez had special praise for his team in front of a raucous home crowd, which cheered every time Canada pushed forward.
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«You played an opening match in front of a full stadium, it was a full house and there were 80% of the Canadian fans. This is a huge amount of pressure, and it’s a great compliment to my team that I didn’t succumb to that pressure,» he said.
He was also hopeful that 40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, who was on the bench, would play in the team’s next match against Switzerland in Los Angeles. Bosnia then closes the group stage against Qatar.
A sharp goal-line clearance from veteran Sead Kolasinac denied Canada an equalizer early in the second half. Barbarez highlighted Kolasinac’s experience and said he expected such things from the defender.
“I expect him to hold the whole team together, lead the team, and this is what he did today in a first-class manner,” he said.
The coach also took heart from the fight his team showed and believes they will gain valuable experience from the match.
«I have to compliment the Canadian team. They were incredibly physical and incredibly intense. They had their plan. They knew how to accomplish it,» he said.
Published on June 13, 2026
