Grahovac: We have something new to offer

The beginning of the Men’s EHF EURO 2014 qualification process was a new disappointment for players and the fans of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national Team.

Two defeats in the first week of last November dealt a heavy blow to any chance of playing in their first major tournament.

Bosnia and Herzegovina find themselves way off the pace after two bad evenings against Austria and Serbia, Denmark looks far away at the moment. 

The squad, led by Dragan Marković, underwent a lot of changes for the upcoming two matches with Russia in Visoko on 4 April and Krasnodar 7 April.

In the extended squad list of 32 players, there was no place for some of the older players like, Adnan Harmandić (HSG Wetzlar), Mirsad Terzić (MKB Veszprem) and Vukašin Stojanović (RK Vojvodina Novi Sad).

Enid Tahirović has ended his professional career, while another goalkeeper, Adnan Šabanović, suffered a cruciate ligament injury with his club, BM Atletico Madrid.

Chambery Savoie goalkeeper Nebojša Grahovac will be the “number 1” for the Bosnian team in these upcoming games and he spoke to ehf-euro.com about the campaign so far.

“It is clear that two defeats at the start of qualification disrupted a lot of things in our team.

“We had our chances against Austria and Serbia, but as many times before, something went wrong. That is our problem for many years,” explains Grahovac.

The last chance to redeem themselves will be the two clashes against Russia. After an impressive seventh place finish at the recent World Championship in Spain, Grahovac and his teammates could not have asked for a much tougher opponent.

“Even our victories in the matches with Austria and Serbia wouldn’t change the fact that an extremely tough task is ahead of us.

“It would be almost impossible to beat Russia in this moment, but we won't surrender before the matches.

“We have something new to offer, some new energy, young players who want to give the best.  If they underestimate us and if we play like we would like all these years, everything is possible.

“However, Russia and Serbia are the biggest favourites to qualify for Denmark In this moment,” admits Grahovac.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will present some younger players in the upcoming games.

“Let's see which kind of effect that will have. We all have to put a lot of efforts to put this team a level up in the time to come.”

Nebojša Grahovac and Benjamin Burić will be the future pair of Bosnian national team goalkeepers, but it was not always so straight forward for Grahovac.

“I have been playing for the national team for the last six years. My status was changeable; I was second, third, fifth, then first goalkeeper and so on.

“I always respect decision of coaching staff. Hopefully, Enid won't change his mind and begin to play again,” Grahovac says with a smile.

Bosnian head coach Dragan Markovic preliminary 32 players for the EHF EURO 2014 qualifiers against Russia:

Nebojša GRAHOVAC - Chambery Savoie (FRA)
Benjamin BURIĆ - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Damir EFENDIĆ - RK Bosna BH Telecom – Sarajevo
Mirko MIKIĆ - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Tarik KASUMOVIĆ - HSV Gotzenhain (GER)
Duško ČELICA - AL Shabab – Dubai (UAE)
Damir DOBORAC - RK Gradačac
Ivan KARAČIĆ - Brest Meshkov (BLR)
Boris BEČIROVIĆ - PAUC (FRA)
Marko PANIĆ - Chambery Savoie (FRA)
Faruk VRAŽALIĆ - Reale Ademar – Leon (ESP)
Davor KADIĆ - RK Čelik – Zenica
Vladimir VRANJEŠ - Reale Ademar – Leon (ESP)
Senjamin BURIĆ - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Muhamed TOROMANOVIĆ - Orlen Visla Plock (POL)
Igor MANDIĆ - Metalurg Skoplje (MKD)
Ivan MILAS - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Kosta SAVIĆ - PAUC (FRA)
Ajdin BUKVA - RK Goražde
Mirza HASELJIĆ - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Vedran DELIĆ - RK Bosna BH Telecom – Sarajevo
Hariz BEGIĆ -RK Konjuh Namještaj – Živinice
Nemanja BEZBRADICA - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Elis MEMIĆ - RK Bosna BH Telecom – Sarajevo
Josip PERIĆ - RK Bosna BH Telecom – Sarajevo
Muhamed ZULFIĆ - RK Bosna BH Telecom - Sarajevo
Stefan JANKOVIĆ - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Elmir GRAĐAN - RK Borac m:tel – Banja Luka
Said AJKUNIĆ - HK Drott Halmstat (SWE)
Deni ĐOZIĆ - Rhein – Neckar  Lowen (GER)
Denis SERDAREVIĆ - Fenix Toulouse Handball (FRA)
Josip ĆAVAR - Redbergslids IK (SWE)