Nikola Katic Says Bosnia and Herzegovina Are At World Cup on Merit
Nikola Katic said Bosnia and Herzegovina are at the World Cup on merit after qualifying for the tournament, and he made clear he sees that place as earned rather than handed out. The defender will be in Canada, Mexico and the USA for a campaign that starts against hosts Canada on Friday 12/6 at 21:00 CEST.
Katic On Bosnia's Qualification
"I honestly can’t put it into words." Katic said the move from qualifier to World Cup player carries the weight of a lifelong target: "Playing at a World Cup one day is probably the biggest dream for every boy who kicks a ball for the first time." He also said, "I’m going to the World Cup as a player, not as a fan."
That step came after Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy on penalties after 120 minutes in the play-offs in March. Katic said the team had already shown its quality against Wales and in the qualifiers against Austria and Romania, which is why he rejected any suggestion that the squad is arriving by accident.
Group B With Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina are in Group B with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, a draw that gives Katic’s side three different tests right away. He singled out Canada as highly motivated as hosts, pointed to Switzerland’s habit of selecting top players from Europe’s biggest leagues, and described Qatar as a very good side.
His view leaves little room for a soft landing. Bosnia and Herzegovina begin with the hosts, then face two opponents he believes have enough quality to punish mistakes, which makes the opening match more than a ceremonial start to the tournament.
Barbarez's Squad Choice
Katic said he worked really hard over the past two months before meeting up with the national team, and that the call-up carried a simple meaning: he wanted to reach the World Cup as part of Sergej Barbarez’s squad, not watch it from the stands. Edin Džeko is another Bosnia and Herzegovina player in the wider group of names around this campaign.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the next step is not proving they belong in the conversation; Katic has already set that line. The task now is turning a qualification run built on Italy, Wales, Austria and Romania into a group-stage result that matches the standard he says the team has already shown.
