Blazevic says Bosnia can overturn 1-0 deficit

Coach Miroslav Blazevic believes Bosnia can overturn Saturday's 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat to Portugal when the two sides meet in the return leg in Zenica on Wednesday.

Blazevic said Bosnia would be more adventurous when they host Portugal at the Bilino Polje ground. A Bruno Alves header gave Portugal a 1-0 win in Lisbon.

"It's hard to predict anything in football but we will go through in Zenica," Blazevic told Bosnian media after seeing his side hit the woodwork three times in the first leg.

"We can't go through if we play like we did in the first leg, but the return match will be a completely different game of football and we will apply a new strategy to surprise Portugal.

"We deserved more from the match in Lisbon, I've never seen luck turn its back on a team like it did on us but we can turn this round nonetheless."

Edin Dzeko headed against the bar and strike partner Zlatan Muslimovic fired the rebound onto the far post in the 89th minute after Senijad Ibricic rattled the woodwork in the first half.

The Bosnians, who soaked up plenty of pressure before Alves headed the winner in the 31st minute, will miss three key players in the return leg through suspension after Emir Spahic, Elvir Rahimic and Samir Muratovic were booked.

"It will be a very difficult return leg because we will be short of three very important players but I hope we will have more luck than we did in the first game," Dzeko said.

Portugal midfielder Deco admitted his side rode their luck in Saturday's first leg.

"In the end we had some luck but even this advantage is not decisive. The important thing was not conceding," Deco said after the game.

"It was a difficult game, but overall we were better and controlled almost the whole match.

"In Zenica if we score a goal there, everything will be easier, but we must be very intelligent and we must hold on to the ball."

The Chelsea midfielder was substituted six minutes from time after sustaining a knock, but believes he will be fit for the second leg. "I felt a pain in the adductor and I came off to put ice on it," he added.

Portugal were without star winger Cristiano Ronaldo due to an ankle injury and in his absence they struggled to break down a disciplined Bosnia-Herzegovina side.

Coach Carlos Queiroz admitted his side needed to improve their creative play for the second leg, but believes they are in the box seat to qualify for next summer's finals in South Africa after keeping a clean sheet.

"The important thing was to win without conceding a goal and that's what we did," he said.

"We had some opportunities to increase the advantage and to reassure the team, but we did not do it.

"Now we have to take time to relax and begin preparing for the second game. But as we saw, Bosnia has a lot of quality and we have to go there at full capacity and play with our heart and minds."