Bosnia & Sassuolo defender Muharemovic: ‘I’m sorry for Italy, I have a lot of respect’ | OneFootball

Tarik Muharemovic was in a magnanimous mood after Bosnia’s World Cup playoff victory over Italy, offering warm words for a country where he has built his club career while celebrating the realisation of a lifelong dream.

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The Sassuolo defender, who plays his club football in Serie A, spoke to Swiss Italian channel RSI in the immediate aftermath of the penalty shootout win, carefully navigating the emotional complexity of eliminating a nation he clearly holds in genuine affection.

“My dream was to play at the World Cup with Bosnia, the greatest dream of all of us,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“All my respect to Italy, my friends and brothers.”

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Bosnia star Muharemovic: ‘I’m very happy in Italy, I never lost respect’

He was also keen to clarify comments from a previous interview that had apparently been misinterpreted.

“I hope they did not take it badly, because I have many friends and brothers there. I am very happy in Italy. I have never lost respect, I know where I come from and that I am humble. Italy is always in my heart.”

On the match itself, Muharemovic acknowledged how difficult the Azzurri had made things despite playing with ten men for the majority of the contest following Bastoni’s red card.

“They tried everything, even with one fewer player, and it was not easy to hold on for 120 minutes. I am sorry for them.”

His pride in Bosnia’s achievement, however, was unmistakable.

“Bosnia is back and making itself known, this is only the beginning. We can show much more.”

BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

With the World Cup now on the horizon, his message was simple. “We are ready. Now we celebrate, then we think about the World Cup.”