CdM 2026: Petkovic, "We have not achieved anything yet."
After the valuable victory against Jordan (2-1) on the second day of Group J of the 2026 World Cup, national coach Vladimir Petkovic expressed his satisfaction while keeping his feet on the ground ahead of the decisive meeting against Austria.
In a press conference, the Swiss coach stated that his team showed a lot of character in a match that started poorly. Trailing in the score, the Greens managed to react with calmness and determination to turn the situation around.
"What I liked most today was the players' reaction after conceding that goal. The team did not lose its composure and continued to believe in its ability to get back into the match," Petkovic said.
The coach nevertheless acknowledged that his team paid the price for some mistakes made during the first half. "We were punished for a few errors in the first half. That’s part of football, and we need to know how to manage these kinds of situations," he explained.
Despite these difficulties, the national coach believes that his players fully deserved the three points. According to him, Algeria dominated the discussions and created enough chances to win.
"The statistics were in our favor in several areas. We controlled the match, created numerous opportunities, and I think this victory is deserved," he emphasized.
Petkovic also highlighted the contribution of the substitutions made during the game. The tactical adjustments made by the staff brought more energy to the group and increased offensive intensity, directly contributing to the turnaround in the second half.
The head of the Greens also wanted to commend Jordan's performance. "The opponent played a good match and posed several problems for us at certain moments of the game," he acknowledged.
For Petkovic, this success also holds particular psychological importance after the defeat suffered on the first day against Argentina. He believes that his team demonstrated its ability to bounce back when it plays with confidence and personality.