Saints’Jahic relishing the prospect of facing Messi

DETERMINED defender Sanel Jahic says he hopes his showings for St Johnstone will help earn him a trip to Brazil, writes Craig Smith.

The Saints centrehalf has 24 international caps for BosniaHerzegovina to his name but is keen to add to that tally when his country appear in their first ever World Cup finals.

He was an interested spectator as Bosnia were drawn in Group F alongside much-fancied Argentina, Nigeria and Iran, and he knows he will have to perform well in Perth if he is to secure a place on the national team’s plane to Rio in six months’ time.

“I know everybody is happy about the draw because we accept that we were a little lucky with the draw,” he said.

“When we see the other groups, we need to be happy. When we see what group Croatia got, with Brazil, Mexico and Cameroon, it’s a very hard group.

“We have Argentina in our group who will be very difficult but when we see Iran and Nigeria, we can be very happy.

“We don’t know so much about Iran but I think they are the worst team of the 32 teams in the competition.

“Nigeria are a good team but I think we can fight with them for second position, because Argentina will be the big favourites.

“I think they will be first in the group and three teams will fight for second place — although I don’t know if Iran can fight.

“But we were excited when the draw was made and you don’t play everyday against Lionel Messi.

“I’ve played against Cristiano Ronaldo before but for me Messi is number one.”

Jahic realises BosniaHerzegovina are unlikely to be the team lifting the trophy come July 13 2014, although the St Johnstone defender insists he cannot see England doing it either.

He said: “England are in a very hard group because Uruguay and Italy are good teams and also Costa Rica, you don’t know what kind of team they will be.

“I don’t know how they will get on but I’m not so positive for England.

“They have very good players but, as a team, they don’t play so good.”