Bosnia coach Safet Susic has attacked Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko after last week's friendly defeat to Egypt.
Dzeko, who was denied a substitution request in the second half, said immediately after the game he had agreed with Susic to be replaced at half time but the coach denied any such accord and also defended his decision to leave midfielder Senijad Ibricic out of the squad.
"There was no such agreement with Dzeko," Susic told Dnevni Avaz.
"He wanted to come off in the second half but I left him on because despite his claim that he was suffering from a niggling knee injury, the team doctor said he was match fit with a proper warm-up.
"As long as I am in charge, Dzeko will play when and if deployed while he won't be allowed to suggest or influence team selection in any way and that also goes for the captain, Emir Spahic, who also seemed to have his own ideas.
"I know it's difficult to be without someone who's a close friend and a roommate because I was a player, too, but I never dared question the coach's decisions.
"The bottom line is, players who are not regular starters for their clubs are down the pecking order and those who are in the national team will do them no favours by advocating their selection.
"I don't care if I have the players' support or not because I don't fear a public backlash, nor am I taking the team to the World Cup in Brazil on a tourist expedition. I told the players that a hundred times."
