Portugal get hostile reception in Bosnia
Deco and Alves nursing knocks
  The Portugal squad are now safely ensconced in Zenica, a city located 70 kilometres outside the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
Meanwhile, injuries picked up by midfielder Deco and centre-back Bruno Alves in Saturday’s 1-0 victory in the first leg have brought their utilisation in the decisive match into question.
As the Portuguese delegation touched down in the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina yesterday, a sizeable group of Bosnian supporters were gathering at the airport to give the players a hot reception.
Sure enough, as the squad made the short trip from the arrivals area to the team bus, a barrage of insults and none-too-welcoming gestures were hurled in their direction. A spokesman for the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) was not impressed with the lack of protection afforded the Portugal party, and even suggested a complaint to FIFA would be considered.
However, amongst all the commotion, several Bosnian supporters were more interested in collecting autographs from the Portugal stars, who did not appear particularly worried by the rowdy welcome.
Extent of injuries not revealed
Of greater concern to Carlos Queiroz will be the fitness of two key players, Deco and Bruno Alves. The former has a muscle strain in his right leg, while Alves, who scored the winning goal at the Estadio da Luz, is battling to recover from a twisted ankle.
The medical department of the FPF has not disclosed the seriousness of the injuries.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm (Lisbon time) tomorrow. A draw or a one-goal defeat as long as Portugal score will see the Seleccao book their place in South Africa.
by Tom Kundert
Follow the match through PortuGOAL’s live text commentary.
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Fortunately, we have many, many thousands of tourists that may act as witnesses for the general 'bad' Portuguese behaviour. What a laugh!
Greetings from Bosnia and Herzegovina from someone who's been arround the Europe and seen that every country has its lowlifes.....
We all known that the Portuguese are infamous for mistreating visitor's.
Do you?
I didn't think so, especially since your allegation came after reports of the rude behaviour of a few Bosnians at the airport.
What's is your excuse for the throwing of objects unto the field and at the Ref's Assistant and the state of the field.
Dzeko has been a great striker for Wolfsburg and for his national side, but he was rendered impotent against Portugal. This I find epsecially commical because Mr. Miroslav Blazevic commented on how Bosnia needs to expose Portugal's weak point, which he believes is it's defense. If anything, I am willing to accept that he is more than likely simply trying to rally the troops before the big match, but anyone with even a mild interest in football knows that Carvalho, Pepe, Bosingwa, Alves and co. are a formidable defense for any opponents. I can't recall the name of a single defender on Bosnia and the hacking "defense" that was on display by the Bosnians in the first game was atrocious. I wouldn't even call it defense.
Our main weakness lies with our forwards. But as B. Alves and others have proven, everyone is capable of producing goals on this squad, and when they have been needed, they have been there. Don't forget that Liedson didn't score last game, but he has been off to a great international start. Write him off at your own peril. The golden generation may be gone, but our defense is arguably much stronger now than the options available during the Figo reign. And even back then, Pauleta was never a prolific scorer on the big stage when it mattered (although in qualifying he was a force to be reckoned with) and Portugal has always had issues with scoring.
I wish both teams good luck today, but I feel confident that Portugal will emerge from this play-off victorious and with a spot secured for South Africa (even if they lose this game 2-1, which is possible). I've heard the pitch is not very good and we will see what the atmosphere is like.
Let's all get real real for a sec and back to reality. These are football 'fans' who let their domestic problems from the early 90's get in the way and think the world is against them.
Carry on posting these lies and the football world WILL be against you. Your biggest problem? You know you'll be watching Serbia in the World Cup next summer and you can't handle that as you're not going !!!!
It does happen.. unfortunately in the game of football much to the horror of the real fans.
Don't judge our citizens by the minority every race has their bad types.. but two wrongs don't make a right in anyones book.. not yours and not mine.
So just because we have some southern players that dive doesn't mean we are all cheats.. I come from working class parents and you would have to stab me with a butchers knife in both eyes to stop one of my runs up the middle, and when I drive the ball hard on net.. I expect the GK to touch it and I drive it hard enough to put him and the ball in the net.
Actually the majority of Portuguese fans I have talked to hate diving.. and would like to castrate any player that would.. just to prevent it, but lets face facts.. Bosnia was part of Yugoslavia and they were some of the biggest divers in World football.. skills they learned from the Italians in Snoria A..
To be honest with you I haven't watched enough Bosnian games for the same reason I don't watch many Ukraine games.. both nations have been improving but are still lower rung teams.
Andrew I too have been to matches in the UK.. and guards can be funny anywhere in Europe..
I am tanned what treatment do you think I get in the Northern UK.. ? In Canada I am considered white.. in the UK I was as black as my Angolan friends. It opened my eyes widely to racism.. I experienced things from the other side. A real learning experience, with a bunch of hard nuts on the outside that crunch real easy.
So saying one guy was sent to hospital.. hey it is one guy too many but.. were you there.. do you know what he did.. was the group in front of yours causing ruckus and by the time the guards got there they grabbed the wrong lot.. and harrassed innocent bystanders like yourself. I know every group has a bad lot.
We recently held the Euro and our security was applauded highly.. with only minor incidents.. something no other recent Euro nation holding a tournament can say.
I lived in the UK when the Euro was there and they trashed every business in site all over England.. especially when England lost.. and for me the English have one of the best security systems in Europe.. I reveer their system and we in North America have no clue when it comes to running timely lawful events.
That system the Portuguese emulated.. and unlike other countries.. recently to stage a tournament.. when offered assistance from the other nations security forces.. we didn't turn our noses.. actually they invited them in and through that partnership it was one of the safest tournies. The praise should be shared with the English, with the Germans, Spanish, etc etc...
So I apologize to any innocent member that was affected.. we don't want that on either side of the fence.
We are both very passionate nations.. that will fight to the end.. if you read back you will see that most Portuguese are highly respectful of the Bosnian's who have visited with reason.
I didn't get any press reports of mistreatment in Lisbon.. so I take anything that happened as routine.. I don't want to be condescending but in Football sometimes things are swept under the rug to a certain extent.. for the good of all.. and to not dramatize4 one person going to the hospital which happens week in week out with the Champions league.. 100 incidents is a good day.
I was once attacked by 30 Newcastle supporters for wearing an opposing teams jersey on the other side of the island far away from the action.
It was natural to hate them.. but I outgrew it and realize now I got lucky.. it could've been worse.
So don't let a few morons ruin the greater good.. as we won't take it as such.. although many Bosnian's have frequented this site of late purely to wind people up.. the majority were classy and we will treat you as such.
If you mistake Portuguese as soft it will be your mistake.. even with our Prima-Dona's they are stronger than they look.
You might have pushed them over the edge.. you best bet was to let Queer-Eyes micro-manage them to death.. now you awoke them. Thank you.. they would've enjoyed the spitting and cursing..should've let them sleep.
Now I can appreciate that this is probably the biggest thing ever for you guys.. and I can sympathize.. war.. then nothing good.. this has your passion channeled.. hey making the World Cup for Bosnia would be like winning the lottery.. Even getting knocked out by Portugal is a great result nothing to be ashamed of.
In your power you will do anything to get your team beyond that huge hurdle.. so some attempts at rough technique against a team that looks pampered is the best medicine.
You forget all those players came from a poor background.. you forget that they wear bull eyes on their heads since they were kids.. why because they have talent.
The biggest goons on the planet already tried to cripple them and failed. In Ronaldo's case it happens almost every minute when he is on the pitch.. every tackle is meant to maim. It is nothing new to these players.. we have played for much higher stakes in bigger games.
But this is the highlight of your recent history.. it will be the highlight of your future even when you fail to qualify. 15 to 30k of passionate fans the story changes from person to person.. we are used to going to cities that have a history of hate for us.. we have fought and beat the best in the world repeatedly.. namely Spain a few times.. and Brazil a few times.. in front of larger more hostile crowds.. we applaud your passion.
We forgive you for you actions.. but don't let it happen again.
I'm from Zenica, the city where your balerine players play in tomorrow,,in our stadium can fit 15 000 fans but we're making better atmospheare then you 65 000,,and we're gonna prove to you and Sep Blater that we diserve to go to Africa,,we're not huligana and savages..that's what you are!!!!!!you proved that in Lisabon.
Wake up!!!!!
The coach of the Bosnia-Herzegovina national football team has ordered players to kiss each other on the lips in order to create a special bond between team mates.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6346472/Bosnia-Herzegovina-football-coach-orders-players-to-kiss-each-other-on-the-lips.html
PROVE YOUR NEWS I DIDN'T HERD ANY NEWS SUCH AS THAT.BUT NEWS THAT I HERD ALL OVER THE WORLD TODAY SAYS BOSNIAN FANS WHO SPIT ON OUR PLAYERS AT THE AIR PORT.
NOW WE ARE MOTIVATED MORE AND WE WILL ANSWER THOSE STUPIDS ON THE PITCH TOMORROW.
Frankie
if they aint got anything nice to say just dont say anything!!!
if the Bosnian team got badly treated as you say show us a source of your news..
i hope karma kicks the Bosnian team's ass... would be great if they scored an own goal now!! ;)