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Report Index--> 2006-07--> All for 20060726
<-Page <-Team Wed 26 Jul 2006 Hearts 3 NK Siroki Brijeg 0 Team-> Page->
<-Srce <-Type Daily Record ------ Report Type-> Srce->
Valdas Ivanauskas <-auth Anthony Haggerty auth-> Espen Berntsen
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29 of 080 Branimir Anic og 53 ;Ibrahim Tall 78 ;Roman Bednar 84 E H

SINK HEARTS? I RECKON WE'RE LUCKY JUST TO HAVE GOT THIS FAR
By Anthony Haggerty

DAVOR LJUBIC last night warned his cocky Siroki stars they're daydreaming when they insist they'll do an Artmedia and turf Hearts out of the Champions League.

Defenders Mijo Studenovic and Branimir Anich flew into Edinburgh yesterday predicting they will shock the Jambos just as Artmedia stunned Celtic last season.

But general manager Ljubic swore his players were talking rubbish and confessed his Bosnian minnows have no chance.

He said: "You are dreaming if you say Siroki will beat Hearts over two legs and advance to the group stage. We have surprised ourselves just by getting this far.

"Our budget is just a million euros a year so that gives you an indication of the size of the club and this already has been an enormous success for us.

"Surprises are certainly possible but Artmedia caused a major shock last season against Celtic and isn't one shock enough?"

But Studenovic insists anything is possible, especially after seeing tiny Maribor send last season's Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal spinning out of the Intertoto Cup.

He said: "That was a big surprise and I hope we can create a shock like it but Hearts are a good team and we know how difficult it will be.

"I read that they beat Osasuna 2-0 and that was a very good result.

"We hope to give a good account of ourselves and gain a creditable result to take back to Bosnia for the second leg."

Anich is convinced Siroki will grab avital away goal at Murrayfield.

He said: "Like Artmedia, no one gives us a chance and we are out to cause a shock like they did.

"We are confident because we have a good team and believe we can get a result. Scottish football is very good and very hard and it will be difficult for us.

"We are a small club and it is very important for our country and this team that we qualify for the Champions League.

"But we are a very young team with not much experience.

"Hearts are a bigger club than Siroki although we do not know too much about them - but we will try everything to score an away goal to give us a chance for the second leg.

"We are familiar with Scottish football because Dado Prso is from our neighbouring country Croatia and he plays here for Rangers.

"We did not speak with Dado about Hearts but they were better than Rangers last season so we know this team have to be very strong.

"We wanted Hearts or Dinamo Zagreb in the draw so we got what we wanted but we would have preferred Dinamo.

"We are a competitive team and we are optimistic but we only have a little chance."

Siroki head coach Ivica Barbarich expects Hearts' biggest threat to come from the middle of the park but admits the Bosnians will be going all out to sneak a precious away goal.

He said: "I expect Hearts to be the huge favourites for this game.

"Their biggest danger will come from the midfield and that is where I expect the biggest fight to take place.

"We want to try to score so that we can take a result back to Bosnia and press them in front of our own supporters.

"We are going to need a lot of luck but we are hopeful of causing a surprise."



Taken from the Daily Record


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