Bosnia coach Sliskovic quits post

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SARAJEVO, Bosnia -- Bosnia coach Blaz Sliskovic has resigned after his team's home 3-1 defeat to Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifier, the Bosnian media reported on Thursday.

"Having in mind the promise I had made that we will win our first two games I feel that I have to withdraw," Dnevni Avaz daily quoted him as saying after the match.

"This a difficult decision after four years with the team. This decision is final," he said.

Bosnia won their opening Group C match in Malta 5-2 and hoped for the two-win start in qualification.

But disciplined and hard-working Hungary, coming back from a home 4-1 loss to Norway, scored three goals in 12 minutes before and after the break against the uninspired hosts.

Bosnia pulled a consolation goal back in the middle of the second half.

Sliskovic's team's misery was compounded with the sending-off of defender Emir Spahic for a second bookable offence two minutes after the first goal.

Szabolcs Huszti scored from the penalty spot after Spahic fouled him in the box.

Sliskovic, 47, has coached Bosnia since 2002 and had a contract for two more years. He narrowly failed to take the side, which has never qualified for a major tournament, to Euro 2004 and this year's World Cup.

"My only regret are the boys who breathed like one and with whom I would stay forever," said Sliskovic, who also coaches Zrinjski Mostar.

National team director Ahmet Pasalic, who has also resigned, said the team still had enough potential to qualify for Euro 2008.

"Only two games have been played and nothing has been lost," Pasalic said.

Other teams in the group are Greece, Turkey and Moldova.

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