Bosnia’s Fall From Hero to Zero, or Why Iran is a Solid Team

The fairy tale is over. While the whole of Iran anxiously waits for today's match, it will mean nothing for Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team will wait for it to be over, with their bags already packed and all the dirty laundry ready to come out. The fallout from the team’s World Cup performance remains to be seen.

Football is a strange business. One day you are the fans’ favorite, the man everyone loves. Posters of you are everywhere, from bedroom walls to shop windows. You are the nation’s heroes.  But one disallowed goal, one terrible result, and down you fall, back down to earth with a bang. There are accusations of poor efforts and lack of commitment. It’s the same everywhere, but, in the Balkans, it’s even worse: there is no place on this planet where the road from hero to zero is so short.

Bosnia-Herzegovina lost to Argentina (2-1) and Nigeria (1-0), cutting the team’s World Cup short. Prior to this, players, coaches, Bosnia’s football federation and the media argued that qualification for the tournament finals was enough reason to celebrate. But the truth is that Bosnians expected much more, particularly after the team’s strong performance against Argentina. Everyone believed tonight’s match against Iran would  be decisive, taking them through  to the last 16.

Was this realistic? Obviously not. To do this, a limited team like Bosnia-Herzegovina would need an experienced coach who would be in a position to use discipline and solid  organization to cover the team’s many weaknesses. It’s something that Quireoz does perfectly for Iran: the team doesn’t have big stars, but they are a team. And Bosnia just wasn’t a team in the same way.  

Without a doubt, Bosnian players will return home to a less than cheery atmosphere. The team’s loss to Nigeria on Saturday is widely believed to be a combination of a bad decision by the game’s referee, Peter O'Leary, coupled with a measure of bad luck. O’Leary’s decision to disallow a clear goal from striker Edin Dzeko will go down as one of the most bitter moments in the history of the nation's football. There are reports that the New Zealand referee and his assistants have received death threats from some Bosnian fans.

But, as days passed since Saturday’s defeat and Bosnians woke from their stupor, the reality hit them. O'Leary's decision may have cost the team a goal, combined with that terrible luck at the very end of the match when Dzeko’s second attempt hit the goalpost. Yet the real reasons for Bosnia-Herzegovina’s early exit came down to the team's overall performance and the tactical naivety of  manager Safet Susic.

People are bitterly disappointed. And that’s why tonight’s match is important. It should not be a routine performance for Bosnia. If they lose tonight, disappointment will gain momentum, a snowball effect that could have dire consequences for Bosnian football. A win would, at least, show that the team cares about the future. The nation wants to see fighting spirit, players doing their best for their country, showing the same pride the fans do. But, for that, fans may have to look to the boys wearing the Iranian shirts.