Kerim Alajbegovic may only be 18 years old, but on Wednesday night he took to the stage at Seattle Stadium and produced an extraordinary performance that was bold, composed and brimming with talent.
And his goal that opened the scoring in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s meeting with Qatar? Nothing short of spectacular. Alajbegovic received the ball with three opponents around him, wriggled free, skipped past another defender and then sent a brilliant right-footed finish beyond Mahmud Abunada, who could do nothing about it.
That opener set Sergej Barbarez’s side on course for victory after an impressive first-half display. Bosnia and Herzegovina ultimately sealed a 3-1 win in Seattle, enough to see them finish third in their group. They must now wait to see if their four-point tally will be enough to secure a Round of 32 berth.
It was a historic night that Alajbegovic will never forget, and one that was capped with him being named Superior Player of the Match. The winger spoke exclusively to FIFA about what went through his mind after that stunning strike.
“I think it was a pretty good goal, to be honest, and to score like that in my first World Cup at my age, well, it’s incredible. I’m really happy and grateful for that. It’s something I could never have imagined,” said Bosnia’s No19, who became the eighth-youngest player ever to score at a World Cup.
Though Alajbegovic was visibly moved post-match, there was also a composure and understanding of what he had achieved. And more importantly, what it meant to his country. “We made our fans very proud. To be Bosnian is something special. We’re very happy with what we’ve achieved, and I think we’ve repaid the love everyone has shown us,” he said.
Yet the conversation also offered a glimpse of the person behind the player, after a night he will never forget. “I dedicate the goal to my parents, because they are always there for me. It makes me really happy that I thought of them straight after I scored,” the winger added.
Alajbegovic's talent has been talked about in football circles for some time, and he had already caught the eye with excellent performances against Wales and Italy in the UEFA play-offs for this World Cup. Speaking post-match, Barbarez was also full of praise for the starlet. “It’s a wonderful thing when you have a player that young and you know what they’re capable of. We’ve waited a long time for him to be ready, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure the pressure doesn’t get to him. There is a lot expected of him. We have plenty of talented young players and I believe our team is going to be even better in the future.”
It was a clear message from the Bosnia and Herzegovina coach, speaking not only as a coach but as a mentor. One thing is certain: Bosnian fans can rest easy. The future of their football is in safe hands. Or maybe that should be feet.
Sources: FIFA Official
