Idman.biz
This week, the Azerbaijan national team will play one of its biggest matches in the qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup – the opponent will be France.
Idman.biz reports that the meeting will take place on October 10 at the famous "Parc des Princes" stadium in Paris, and this is the first meeting of the parties in the last 10 years.
Of course, the teams are at different levels – the French, two-time world and European champions, are considered a very strong opponent for Azerbaijan. But this makes the game more interesting. The main goal is not only the result, but also the players gaining experience playing against a high-level opponent.
The team is preparing for the game with high spirits. Especially after the 1:1 draw with Ukraine, Aykhan Abbasov is leading the team for the first time as the official head coach. He applies an individual approach, taking into account the difficulties the players have experienced in their clubs. For example, although Mahir Emreli has played little in his club recently, Abbasov expressed his trust in him.
The head coach emphasizes that the most important thing for his team before the result is the fight and the quality of the game: "The opponents will always be difficult – France, Ukraine or Iceland. The main thing is that we fight".
The players share the same opinion. Musa Gurbanli said that France is a strong opponent, but the important thing is to fight for 90 minutes: "We understand each other better with the new head coach".
France comes to the game as the group leader, but the injury of some key players is still in question. It is not known whether Kilian Mbappe will participate in the game due to a leg injury, and Bredli Barkola from PSG will play as a substitute for the injured player.
In conclusion, the main task of Azerbaijani football players is to fight in Paris, show character and get the most out of the game. The result is secondary.
Zeki Feyzullayev
