The captain of the football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Turkish Fenerbahce spoke for Daily avaz.
Almost every day some world media publishes your photo with impressive statistics and the question “is this the best underrated striker of all time”. How satisfied are you when you look back at everything you’ve done, and at the same time you’re still relentlessly shaking the opponent’s nets?
“Generally, I don’t pay too much attention to what is written about me, but of course praise is appreciated. However, I am at an age when criticism or praise can no longer affect me, nor elevate me, nor create a problem. There are enough games behind me that I myself am aware when I play well or badly. I am my own biggest critic and I often analyze matches, opportunities, moves in my head, so that I can correct bad things in the next match. As for scoring goals, that’s simply my job and I enjoy every goal I score.”
You have played 1,012 games in your senior career. Unreal, and you play like you’re at least 25. What’s your secret?
“I really feel good and that’s the most important thing. Throughout my career, I have not had any major or serious injuries, and I use every break to rest a little, but also to keep in shape. I am in constant training and I have never allowed myself to slack off physically or physically. Plus, the love for football and the passion I feel for winning. I think that’s my secret”.
You are an idol to many, generations in Bosnia and Herzegovina kick the ball and when they score a goal, they shout “Džeko, Džeko”. How much does all this mean to you, is it not easy to cheer up such a difficult people like us for years?
“That’s what you said. I think it’s really easy to make our people happy, because they all want to see everyone doing their best on the field. We used to know how to celebrate defeats as victories, along with good play, combativeness, throwing on the head, and sometimes even victories were not enough. I am happy when I know that our people are also happy, especially when I see that we are cheering up the children, the younger generations, who need to gain love for the country, the national team, football. We are aware that we are their heroes and that is something, among other things, that motivates us.”
How do you comment on the World Cup qualification draw?
“The group is, by name, acceptable, but we are definitely not the favorites in that group. We will have to do our best in every game if we want a good result, that is, going to the WC. The other national teams also believe that they have been given a tailored group and they all see a chance to go to the World Cup, and they all realistically have it.”
We didn’t go to the Euro, with knowledge and a little luck, to go to the World Cup and that would be your ideal farewell to the national team? Although, let’s face it, we who love Dragons would never let you say goodbye, but…
“We will talk about forgiveness when it comes. I’m still here and I’ll be there as long as the selectors and coaching staff need me.”
(Vijesti.ba)
www.vijesti.ba
