Dzeko brushes off controversial TV remarks ahead of USA clash: “It says more about her than about us”

Bosnia and Herzegovina will face co-hosts the United States in the FIFA World Cup round of 16 in the early hours of Thursday (Central European Time), with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Ahead of the match, comments by ABC reporter Abigail Velez sparked widespread criticism in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States.

Speaking during a television broadcast, Velez said:

"In the next round, Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday. And one thing about Bosnia is that I could not point out where it is on a map."

She continued:

"I don't know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don't want to know."

The reporter then confidently backed the United States to progress.

"Team USA, we're back, we're better than ever. Get prepared Bosnia, because you don't want it. You don't want it like that. But you're gonna get it."

The remarks quickly drew backlash on social media and from sports fans in both countries.

Asked about the controversy by American reporters, Dzeko declined to escalate the issue.

"It says more about her than about us," Bosnia's captain said.

"The important thing now is the match against the United States. I don't think they will underestimate us. The Americans know we have quality, and we know it ourselves. You are the favourites, but the knockout stage is completely different from the group stage."

Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockout rounds for the first time since making their World Cup debut in 2014, while the United States are hoping to capitalise on home advantage and advance further in the tournament.