Patience the key, says Portugal boss Bento

PORTUGAL boss Paulo Bento will demand patience from his players as they try to secure a place at Euro 2012 tonight against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Bento’s men claimed a goalless draw in the first leg in Zenica on Friday, although they were fortunate to escape from a bitty encounter on level terms after home substitute Vedad Ibisevic wasted two golden chances late on.

Bento is expecting better at the Stadium of Light in the return.

He said: “Our preparations for the first game focused on competing. With the conditions we had to face we showed great adaptability and played more direct.

“Nevertheless the result is better for us than for Bosnia. However, having not scored an away goal, we know there is still a risk. We know we might have to face some instances of adversity but we must not lose patience. We must be faithful to our style of play in order to get a goal.”

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic hinted the visitors will adopt a counter-attacking style in Lisbon. “We’re still confident for what is to come,” he said. “If we score a goal over there, I think we’ll go through.’’

Elsewhere Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has warned his players they cannot afford to relax against Turkey tonight, despite taking a 3-0 lead into the return leg of their Euro 2012 play-off.

Bilic’s men all but guaranteed themselves a place at Poland and Ukraine next summer thanks to goals from Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Volkan Demirel in Istanbul.

The two-legged tie will be completed in Zagreb tonight but, although his team are overwhelming favourites to progress, Bilic is taking nothing for granted.

“Turkey are great and will come to Zagreb knowing they need a result,” he said.

“Football is unpredictable so we do not have time to relax. We have to be even better than we were in the first leg, even though we’re optimistic.”

Meanwhile Montenegro striker Dejan Damjanovic has urged his team-mates to go on the attack if they are to turn around a two-goal deficit to the Czech Republic in their Euro 2012 qualifying play-off second leg.

The Czech Republic won the first leg 2-0 in Prague on Friday with goals from Vaclav Pilar and Tomas Sivok, but Damjanovic does not believe all is lost before the return match in Podgorica.

Damjanovic said: “We won’t collapse — we’re a totally different team at home.

“We have to be a lot more attacking in the second leg. Having lost the first game 2-0, we can’t simply wait for a mistake from the Czech defence.

“We need a quick goal, and if we get that it’ll be an open game, and everything is possible.

“If we start well, things will go our way, and maybe we can get an unbelievable result.’’