Barbarez calls on Bosnia to attack in must-win Qatar clash

[p]The ‌two sides play on Wednesday knowing they ‌realistically must win to progress, after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia[/a]'s opening draw with ‌co-hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] was followed by a chastening defeat ‌by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] in Group B.[/p][p]A draw would put Bosnia and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/qatar/zqzHL77i/"]Qatar[/a] on two points, surely not enough to qualify ‌in third place, and Barbarez predicted the ⁠high stakes would make ‌for an entertaining contest.[/p][p][b]"For us, it's never our goal to ​defend for 90 minutes," Barbarez told a group of largely Bosnian reporters. "There are always ​phases of the game when... you let the opponent play."[/b][/p][p][b]"It's not going to be a match of long ⁠balls and defending," ​he added. "It will be two teams that will have to fight to win."[/b][/p][image alt="Bosnia - Qatar win probability" id="c44d0c1b-833b-4fc4-8b33-d091407a566e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="9f7286e4-a01a-4ef4-95b1-605c45a1a2ec" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Bosnia expect to be well supported by their fans, who have been visible in large ‌numbers in Seattle this week. Qatar, though, are also set to have a large contingent in the stadium, with sections of Seattle Stadium already marked with Qatari flags on Tuesday evening.[/p][p]The European side go into the game as favourites and victory would most likely set up a last-32 clash against co-hosts the United States.[/p][p]But Barbarez said Bosnia, playing in ‌their second World Cup having been eliminated in the ​group stage in 2014, had to be wary ‌of their opponents.[/p][p][b]"Us being or not being favourites to win the match will not change our approach," he said. "Looking at FIFA's ranking, Qatar should be the favourite. They are better ranked than ⁠us, so we need ⁠to pay attention."[/b][/p][p][b]"Form can ‌beat quality sometimes," Barbarez concluded.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bosnia-herzegovina-fqe7WYTr/qatar-zqzHL77i/?mid=jRyHEZGP"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]