Bosnia coach Gjergja outlines rebuilding plan after Serbia defeat

Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Dario Gjergja spoke after the national team’s 94‑81 loss to Serbia in Belgrade, a match that closed the sixth round of Group C World Cup qualifiers. He said the side struggled with rebounding, turnovers and several injuries, noting the absence of key players such as Atić and a foreign playmaker, and added, “We had no chance to win against such a strong Serbian lineup.”

Despite the defeat, BiH finished third in the group and will advance to the next qualifying phase against Italy, Lithuania and Iceland. Gjergja said the squad will introduce new talent, hopes to regain players like Nurkić and Sulejmanović, and add a reliable shooter. He praised the “phenomenal” crowd in Belgrade and concluded, “Step by step we are rising, introducing new youngsters and preparing for EuroBasket 2029.”