24.06.2014 17:49 h

Bosnia's Susic eager to sign off in style

Safet Sušić
Safet Sušić

Bosnia-Hercegovina coach Safet Susic says his side want to bow out with their heads held high with a convincing performance against Iran in their final gorup game in Salvador on Wednesday.

Successive defeats leave Bosnia unable to qualify, while Iran must win to reach the last 16 and hope Nigeria fail to pick up a point against Argentina in the other Group F match.

Iran's progress could be decided by goal difference, but Susic says the Bosnians are desperate to score a few goals of their own to sign off their first World Cup campaign in style.

"We're going into this with a deep desire to finish in an honourable way and earn some redemption for our defeats," said Susic, who says he will reveal his future as head coach in the next ten days although there have been calls for him to go.

"We were expecting this to be our key match for the round of 16, but things haven't panned out how we wanted.

"It's important to bid farewell to the World Cup in a nice manner."

After a battling display in their opening 2-1 defeat to Argentina, Bosnia are still smarting from their 1-0 defeat to Nigeria last Saturday.

Striker Edin Dzeko was denied an early goal by the linesman's flag, but replays showed the player was clearly onside.

The Bosnians claim New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary then missed a foul on captain Emir Spahic in the build-up to Peter Odemwingie's 29th-minute winner.

"We're facing a dead rubber, we're sorry because we could have gone through if we'd had more luck, played better and if referees had taken more logical decisions," said Susic.

"If we get a result, people will come to realise that had we had more luck or fairer refereeing decisions, this team could have progressed."