Idman.biz
"Our team showed that it can defend well in the first half."
This was stated by the former forward of the Azerbaijani national team, Ruslan Gurbanov, in an interview with Sportal.az.
We present that interview:
- Did you probably watch our national team's away match against France (3:0) in the qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup? What are your impressions of the match?
- Of course, I watched our national team's game against France. Unfortunately, our team conceded a goal in the last minutes of the first half. But to be honest, the team fought to the end, fought on the field. France is a very strong national team. World stars play there. Of course, it could have been done better. Our national team has potential. I believe that our team will show itself even better in the upcoming matches.
- In fact, there were quite a few people who expected our team to be defeated by a large score before the match in Paris. What do you think?
- I wasn't thinking about a big defeat. Our team showed that it can defend well in the first half. If that goal hadn't happened, no one could have guessed how the game would have turned out in the second half. The goal conceded while heading to the locker room had a bad effect.
- Tomorrow, our team is waiting for a match against Ukraine in Poland. Do you think the national team can take points from the Ukrainians again?
- Of course, it is possible. Ukraine can also be defeated. After the match in Baku, the Ukrainian national team spoke very confidently. It was as if the Azerbaijani national team did not know how to play football and how could they not win in Baku? I hope that our guys have not forgotten these words of the confident Ukrainians. Therefore, our team must prove on the field and bring the members of the Ukrainian national team down from the sky.
- The national team drew 1:1 with Ukraine in Baku. Ukraine, on the other hand, defeated Iceland 5:3 away in the previous round and went to Poland with high motivation....
- Ukraine's victory over Iceland doesn't mean everything. The Azerbaijani national team and Aykhan Abbasov's team know very well how to play against Ukraine. The Ukrainian national team did not show anything special in Baku. They are an average national team. It is possible to fight well and take points. I support our national team. I am sure that our team will not lose.
- There are players in our national team who do not play stably in their clubs. This also manifests itself in the team's games. Can we hope for a successful result with our current squad?
- Of course, if a football player does not gain playing practice, it also affects his game. But here, the psychological state of the football player plays a more decisive role. I am sure that players who play little want to play more. It means that the head coach still doesn't trust them that much and gives them few chances. Maybe they are losing the competition. Everything changes quickly in football. I am sure that those who do not play much will play and score goals soon. I wish our national team success. The main thing is that there are no injuries.
