Sejad Salihovic: “I've got to keep control of my emotions better”

Twice in the next few days, you and your national teammates will face Slovakia. What do you make of your opponents?

Slovakia are third in our group but still a strong team and we will have to give it our all. Peter Pekarik, Radoslav Zabavnik and Karim Guédé are three players that have Bundesliga experience. They've also got international stars such as Martin Skrtel and Marek Hamsik. We will have to be at our best to win.

With 16 points at the top of your World Cup qualifying group, only Greece (13) are a threat. Second spot would also be enough to qualify, if you come through the playoffs. How sure are you about participating in Brazil?

You can never be sure until it is guaranteed. We have a good chance but nothing more than that. We have the confidence to say that we absolutely want to be there. It would be the first time ever that a Bosnian team has ever qualified for the World Cup. That tells you enough about how motivated we are.

What would participation in a World Cup mean for your country?

Bosnia is a small country but you still see traces of the war everywhere. Football plays a big role for a number of people. We just want to show on the big stage that we exist. We want the Bosnian people to be proud of their team.

You were sent off against Freiburg. What did you make of the situation now that a few days have passed?

What I did wasn't clever and it shouldn't happen, even if it wasn't meant in a bad way. I have thought about it and I've got to keep better control of my emotions if I want to be vice-captain and a leader of this team. I apologised to the team the following morning.

Was there an internal sanction from Markus Gisdol afterwards?

I spoke to the manager, but there was nothing more than that. I know that I didn't help the team at all with my actions, and I more annoyed about that than anyone else. I am more than self-critical enough.