Susic, who has been in charge since 2009 after a non-descript coaching career largely with mediocre Turkish clubs, said the Argentinian game was not the key to their qualifying for the last 16 in their maiden appearance at the global showpiece.

“We haven’t shown everything we are capable of yet,” said 59-year-old Bosnia-born Susic, who was a world class attacking midfielder in his playing days both for French side Paris Saint Germain and for the then Yugoslavia.

“It was not a key match. We could afford to lose so long as it wasn’t a thrashing.

“That is what we did. I hope that Argentina will win their other two games, because if they do then the second place spot will be between Iran, Nigeria and Bosnia.

“The guys are strong-headed, I won’t have any trouble to remotivate them.”

Bosnia captain Emir Spahic, who Susic had told to refrain from making comments about team affairs prior to the finals, looked like a child in a sweet shop before the kick-off, so excited was he at the honour of leading his country in their World Cup debut.

Spahic, who plays for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, professed himself to be well satsifed with their performance against Argentina which saw them dominate parts of the first-half after conceding an early own goal before Lionel Messi doubled the lead in the second-half.

Substitute Vedad Ibisevic, who scored the goal that secured Bosnia’s place in the finals in the qualifier against Lithuania, grabbed a late goal for the Bosnians.

“We are proud of what we did,” said 33-year-old Spahic. “This will be great for our morale.”

Susic, who played in both the 1982 and 1990 World Cup finals for Yugoslavia, said that he would deploy two strikers for the remaining games, against African Cup of Nations champions Nigeria in Cuiaba on Saturday and Iran four days later.

Bosnia were one of the most potent attacking forces in the qualifiers as they scored 30 goals — admittedly not in a particularly strong group — and topped it on a far superior goal difference to the notoriously goal-shy Greeks.

“We couldn’t afford to play with two strikers against Argentina, who have so many attacking midfielders,” said Susic.

“But from now on I will pick Ibisevic for the remaining two games.”