Bosnia Exits With Regrets, Sense of Injustice
(Reuters) - Bosnia went out of its first World Cup on Saturday with a sense of injustice over a disallowed goal and regrets that the team had not performed as well as it can on soccer's biggest stage.
"They are all depressed, disappointed, silent," coach Safet Susic said of his players after they lost 1-0 to African champions Nigeria. Bosnia now cannot progress after losing 2-1 to Argentina in its first game in Group F.
A tight match hinged on two controversial calls in the first half from the officials, led by New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary.
Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside, and Bosnia also felt that captain Emir Spahic was fouled in the buildup to Peter Odemwingie's winning goal.
"Had they allowed the (Dzeko) goal, this would probably have changed the match," Susic said.
"I was told in the dressing room that Dzeko was well onside. As far as the reported foul on Spahic, if the referee didn't whistle, there was no foul."
Susic said his team ultimately had to take responsibility for being outfought by Nigeria and being profligate in front of the goal.
"It seems they (Nigeria) wanted it a bit more," he said.
"You see what kind of chances we wasted, like the one in stoppage time," he added, referring to a scuffed shot from Dzeko that Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama deflected onto a post and away to safety.
Susic indicated that he felt a Bosnian team featuring players of the quality of Manchester City's Dzeko and AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic could have produced more.
"If our players don't play at their usual level, it is normal for us to not beat teams of ... approximately the same quality," he added.
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