Overview
- Barbarez, speaking Wednesday in Cardiff, refused to retract his claim that Brondby benched Benjamin Tahirovic to benefit Wales and said he did it to protect the player by creating a media "puzzle."
- Brondby rejected any national-team motive and said leaving Tahirovic out of their last two matches was a club decision made by the coaching staff and management.
- Media reports said Tahirovic contacted Steve Cooper to apologise for the fallout and that Brondby sporting director Benjamin Schmedes reached out to Barbarez to explain the club’s stance.
- Wales host Bosnia on Thursday in a UEFA World Cup play-off semi-final, with the winner set to host Italy or Northern Ireland next Tuesday, March 31.
- Bosnia sit 71st in FIFA’s rankings, 35 places below Wales, have not lost in four meetings with Wales, and Barbarez said the team has prepared for extra time and penalties.