- 19.11.09
- First Team
Damjanovic’s Dream is Shattered
Dario Damjanovic’s dream of a place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa did not come true. A second-half strike by Raul Meireles was enough to break Bosnian hearts and send 2006 semi-finalists Portugal through to the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals.
Dario Damjanovic
The team of national coach Miroslav Blazevic lost 0-1 (0-0) against Portugal in Zenica on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Portugal enjoyed more possession and missed two good chances either side of half-time, when the Bosnia goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic denied Meireles and Nani with a pair of superb reflex saves.
But Hasagic was helpless when Nani won the ball on the edge of the penalty box, laid it on to Simão Sabrosa who in turn squared it for Meireles to sidefoot home the game's only goal. Damjanovic did not pull on national colors.
For Portugal it is their fifth finals appearance, and third in succession. The Bosnia manager Miroslav Blazevic saw his side denied their first World Cup appearance. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina has gained respect after getting this far and proving to be a stiff opponent.
Elsewhere, Daniel Pavlovic and the Switzerland Under-21 won the second game within one week. After defeating Turkey 3-1, Pavlovic and his team-mates won 1-0 (1-0) against Georgia. Pavlovic went the full distance. Switzerland is at the top of Group 2, on course for the 2011 European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
Slovakia met Chile in a friendly game already on Tuesday. FCK player Eric Jendrisek played the full 90 minutes but was not able to avoid his mother country’s 1-2 (1-1) defeat. Slovakia already secured a berth in next year’s World Cup finals a few weeks ago.
