Head coach Sergej Barbarez led his team with a lot of emotion from the touchline and, in the end, knew how to celebrate another success for his team: “Before the match I said we practiced penalties. At this stage you always have to have different scenarios in mind. I knew we had good takers, but also our Nikola Vasilj, who’s an excellent ‘penalty man.’ Even though he had difficulties during the match with the goal we conceded, he showed how mentally strong he is and how he managed to get back into the game. Since we’ve been together, I keep repeating—belief is everything. Belief in yourself, belief in success. I’m happy to have players like this. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday, we move forward. We’ve got the will to work together and the desire to make our nation happy. I said if we get through the first game, anyone can come. We’ll ‘fight’ anyone. We’ve got quite a few ‘Italians’ in our team, they’ll be especially motivated. Only through matches like this can they grow. Since the 0:7 loss to Germany in November 2024, we haven’t lost away.”

With a goal in the 86', captain Edin Džeko brought us back into the game: “A tough match. They were the favorites, mainly because of home field, but also due to their convincing win over North Macedonia (7:1), which isn’t a bad team at all. We’re a national team with a lot of young, quality players, along with a few of us more experienced ones. We proved that today and in the end deservedly celebrated. We entered the match a bit timid. Up until their goal there were certain mistakes, especially in possession, but I’ve got the feeling that goal actually helped us, because only then did we start playing what we agreed on before the match. We could’ve scored another goal and finished it in regular time. In extra time we defended well, and then that ‘lottery’ of penalties finally went our way. Now Italy awaits us, a big favorite, but we’re playing in front of our fans and we believe in ourselves.”

Kerim Alajbegović started the match on the bench, but after coming on he assisted a goal and scored the decisive penalty: “I’m proud of the team. When I stepped up to take the penalty, I knew I’d score. What just happened is an incredible feeling. I didn’t feel nervous when taking the penalty, I was sure I’d convert it and that we’d all celebrate together with our fans afterward. Now we’re playing at home and we’ve got nothing to fear.”

Tarik Muharemović was solid in defense and, together with his teammates, carried a big part of this victory: “I can’t find the words, I can barely stand. We showed we fight until the end. This is just the first step. On Tuesday we’re going to ‘eat up’ the next opponent and celebrate together in Zenica. Whoever comes, we’ll fight until the end, just like we did today. We’re fighting for our dream and the dream of all Bosnia and Herzegovina. We all believe in ourselves, from the coaching staff to each player, and there’s no reason to fear anyone. There’s no time to celebrate much, because a big match is already waiting for us on Tuesday. It wasn’t easy, we endured, and in the end we were rewarded after penalties.”