The euphoria surrounding the performances of BiH football team at the FIFA Cup, has prompted the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity to recommend that employers grant workers the day off on Thursday.
Hospitality venues across the Federation have announced they will remain open until the early hours of the morning to allow those who wish to watch the match to do so, and numerous fan zones have also been prepared.
On Wednesday, Sarajevo tram displays showed the surnames of head coach Sergej Barbarez and his players instead of destination names, as debate continues over whether home advantage or energy fuelled by ćevapi will prevail.
By reaching the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national football team has already achieved a historic success, and the players coached by Barbarez enter the next decisive match convinced they can spring another surprise and secure a further victory from the position of underdogs.
“We achieved our first objective, which was qualifying for the knockout stage. The whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina is proud of us, and we are proud of what we have done,” the veteran Edin Džeko said in comments relayed via local media in the United States.
A special message ahead of the match also came from NATO headquarters in Sarajevo, where the commander is U.S. General James Fowler and a large number of American officers and soldiers are deployed.
In a video posted on Instagram, a staged “clash” between supporters of the Bosnia and Herzegovina and United States teams was shown, ending with General Fowler intervening.
For me personally, this is a difficult challenge, as my two favourite teams are playing each other. What I have learned over the past few weeks is the passion that the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team possesses, as well as the sense of unity, pride and togetherness it demonstrates, the NATO commander said, also outlining what he considers to be the strengths of each team.
Fra Danijel Rajić, parish priest of St Francis’ parish in the Sarajevo neighbourhood of Dobrinja, has so far marked Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup victories by ringing church bells, earning him numerous expressions of gratitude and significant media attention.
Before the start of the tournament, he also gave blessings in his church to national team members: goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and players Nikola Katić and Ivan Bašić.
On Wednesday, ahead of the match against the United States, he said that regardless of the outcome, the Bosnia and Herzegovina players had already achieved something enormous for their country and its people.
“They are winners for us already, simply by restoring pride, joy, unity and solidarity, making us proud of our homeland and grateful to God for having one another,” Father Danijel told N1 television.