PSV coach proud despite elimination: “It really affects me”
1 min readEsmir Bajraktarevic is eliminated with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup after the Bosnians lost to the United States 2-0 on Thursday night Dutch time. Former PSV player Malik Tillman passed judgment on the Balkan country by scoring in the 82nd minute to seal the win, despite the fact that the Americans had to continue from the 64th minute with ten men after a debatable red card for striker Folarin Balogun.
The same Balogun provided the 1-0 just before halftime and therefore had to come on after an unlucky incident with a red card due to a VAR intervention. Despite the fact that Bosnia are eliminated from the world finals tournament, national team coach Sergej Barbarez is proud of his squad.
The team, including among others Bajraktarevic in the squad, secured a place in the next round at their second World Cup appearance. ''We have to admit that we didn't manage it. But I told the boys straight after the match how proud I am of them,'' Barbarez said after the game to the attending media in San Francisco.
Above all, surviving the group stage is, according to the head coach, a world-class achievement. ''I congratulated the boys, because I am really proud of their performance. It really moves me. Right now I am the proudest coach in the world,'' says an emotional Barbarez.
For the match, Bajraktarevic had to settle for a place as a substitute, and in the 51st minute the PSV player was allowed to come on for Armin Gigovic. Despite the Bosnian pressure after the red card, the Americans held firm and thus managed to qualify for the round of sixteen, in which Belgium will be the opponent.
Comments8
2-0 en Tillman op tijd... dat is gewoon cold. Maar serieus, Barbarez die "de trotste trainer ter wereld" roept terwijl je eruit ligt, dat is passie pur 🔥
Discutabele rode kaart voor Balogun, volgens mij is dat precies zo'n moment waarop je in een poule ineens alles ziet kantelen. België als tegenstander in de achtste is wel meteen een toptest, gonna be fun 👀
Ik vind die timing wel frustrerend voor Bajraktarevic. Hij komt in de 51e, Bosnië drukt, maar je ziet meteen dat zo'n rode kaart het hele plan kapotmaakt. Toch mooi dat hij zich kwalificeert voor de volgende ronde, ook al is België de tegenstander.
Malik Tillman die in de 82e beslist, tja dat is wel echt kwaliteit. En Balogun die eerst scoort en dan rood krijgt door die VAR... dat voelt bijna alsof voetbal oneerlijk kan zijn 😅
Sergej Barbarez saying he is "de trotste trainer ter wereld" after getting eliminated is crazy emotional, fair play. But i keep thinking about Balogun, he scores right before halftime and then has to go off after the VAR review... that is painful 💀. For PSV fans it also stings that Bajraktarevic was only reserve, even though he gave them a boost after the red.
Tbh i respect the mentality, Bajraktarevic coming on in the 51st shows trust, but being 2-0 down with a red in the game is just brutal. The story is basically: unfair moment, then survivial football. Tillman scoring to finish it is peak efficiency 👀
That quote from Barbarez, "Het raakt me echt"... i feel you, man. Still, the red card for Balogun by VAR changes everything, Bosnians basically had to defend for 30+ minutes with one less. Malik Tillman with the 82nd minute judgement is cold blooded 😅
Barbarez zegt "Het raakt me echt" en dat snap ik wel. Uitschakeling doet pijn, maar met 10 man tegen de VS sta je echt met je rug tegen de muur.