top
Afran Ismayilov: National spirit is back, Iceland will not be able to score easily against us Sport24.az
Today, 13:00
- +

Afran Ismayilov: National spirit is back, Iceland will not be able to score easily against us

"We haven't spoken about the national team with heart, desire, and ease for a long time. It's nice and joyful to say something this time." These words were said by former Azerbaijani national team football player Afran Ismayilov in his statement to Sport24.az.

The 37-year-old former midfielder shared his thoughts on the team's loss to Ukraine (1:2) in the qualifying round of the DÇ-2026:

"The determination, desire, and the game we want to see are slowly coming back. I believe that tactics and the game will develop further over time. Everything will fall into place. I want to thank the national team's head coach, Aykhan Abbasov, very much. He was able to gather the team quickly. They achieved a draw with Ukraine in Baku. They showed determination in the meeting with France in Paris. Yesterday, we also saw struggle and determination in the match against Ukraine. That meeting could have ended in a draw. If we had taken advantage of the opportunity in the first minutes, it would have been possible to win."

Ismayilov recalled that the team's chances in Group D were slim from the beginning:

"But our game has improved. Determination, national spirit is back. This is also a welcome development. I believe that from now on, Iceland will not be able to score 5-6 goals against us easily. I hope that we will win at least one point in Baku, in front of our fans. Everyone is eager. We will achieve better results gradually. This is visible in the national team. There are football and football players in Azerbaijan. It is just necessary to manage them and make them play well. Aykhan Abbasov does this very well. He knows the players well. I wish our team success in the upcoming matches."

Qarabağ FK

Latest news

Chess
Today, 17:06

Azerbaijani chess teams lost in the last round of the European Championship

Football
Today, 16:48

Brazil Loses to Japan 3-2

Football
Today, 16:45

Rafinha will miss the game against "Girona" due to injury

Football
Today, 16:40

"Qarabag" assistant coach Huseyn Seyidov gained experience at "Galatasaray"

Football
Today, 16:40

Frenkie de Jong's contract with "Barcelona" is extended, release clause will be 500 million euros

Basketball
Today, 16:25

Category Exams for Basketball Coaches to be Held

Football
Today, 16:20

Ruslan Malinovskyi: "All national teams, even Azerbaijan, know how to play football"

Football
Today, 16:13

Jordan Pickford extends contract with Everton

Volleyball
Today, 16:00

"Kür" Handball Team to Host "Balatonfüredi KSE" in Mingachevir in European Cup

Football
Today, 15:53

"Barcelona" wants to transfer "Nantes" defender Tiele Tatin

Football
Today, 15:48

Afran Ismayilov: Determination and spirit have returned to the national team, Iceland will not be able to score easily

Football
Today, 15:43

Huseyn Seyidov Talks About His Internship at Galatasaray

Football
Today, 15:40

Robert Lewandowski's injury confirmed by Barcelona

Boxing
Today, 15:35

Nikita Tszyu Involved in Car Accident

Basketball
Today, 15:24

ABF will hold seminars and exams for coaching categories

Football
Today, 15:23

Vidadi Rzayev: The legionnaire limit will not benefit our football

Football
Today, 15:20

Scaloni: "I will talk to Messi before the game, if he is healthy, he will play"

Football
Today, 15:15

Mbappe Explains the Differences Between Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso

Football
Today, 15:10

Joan Laporta: "I prefer intimacy to money, because it's health"

Football
Today, 15:00

Maksim Medvedev: National team's performance in the match against Ukraine and Aykhan Abbasov's tactical analysis

Football
Today, 14:58

Salary scandal at "Serik Belediyespor": Tufan Sadigov faces problems again

Football
Today, 14:47

Robert Lewandowski injured during Poland national team training camp

Football
Today, 14:44

"Barcelona" presents Ed Sheeran's logoed new kit: It will be used in "El Clasico"

Chess
Today, 14:40

Azerbaijan chess team will play for the European Championship

Related news