Idman.biz
The Azerbaijani national team lost to France 1:3 in the qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Baku.
After the game, the team's goalkeeper Shahruddin Mahammadaliyev gave an interview to Telegraf. The experienced goalkeeper revealed the team's result and its reasons:
- If the injury is chronic, can it be said that it brings the end of a career?
- No, I don't think so. No matter how many operations I have, no matter how much it hurts, it gives me more strength. After the injury, I come back stronger. I don't care.
- Was the third goal an own goal?
- I didn't see that goal in the video. I think I touched the ball, but I don't know if someone touched it after me or not. An own goal is an own goal. The decision has already been made.
- After Aykhan Abbasov's arrival to the team, the national spirit returned.
- Yes, the national spirit returned to the team. It is very important to speak Azerbaijani in the dressing room. There should be an Azerbaijani coach in the Azerbaijani national team.
- But why is there no result?
- No one plays in their club. No one wants to discuss this problem. Everyone says, why is Abbas Huseynov in the national team when he doesn't play in the club? Find a stronger player than Abbas. Is there another Azerbaijani player who plays as a right-back or midfielder in his club? Find such a player. 11 legionnaires take to the field in Turan Tovuz. 9-10 legionnaires play in the main squad in all clubs. There is no normal local player in the First League. No one wants to discuss this. But when the same players are called to the national team, they say, why did they invite him? So who should be called? Is there anyone?
- Do you think the situation has changed for the worse after the abolition of the legionnaire limit in the Azerbaijan Premier League?
- In general, I think that Azerbaijani football was able to withstand this limit. We should not compare ourselves to Belgium or France. We are neither Belgium nor France. We are Azerbaijan, we have only one professional league. There were 10 teams before, now 2 more have been added. It was thought that by bringing the number to 12, more Azerbaijani players would be given a chance. How many Azerbaijani players play in Imishli? There is no Azerbaijani goalkeeper in the main squad of any team. Who plays in the main squad other than Salahat Aghayev? No one! Everyone thinks it will be good. What comes next will be worse. I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. There is no chance.
- As an experienced goalkeeper, what do you think is the reason why Azerbaijani football players do not want to live a legionnaire life?
- The problem is not in the national team. Where should we play? Where should the children play? Obviously, I am still in Qarabag, our head coach Gurban Gurbanov thinks about Azerbaijani football and gives us a chance to play in the championship. But where should the other children play? Where should they go? Who is waiting for us saying, "Come and play here"? Is there any country that calls us? Everyone says, go and play. Where? It's not about mentality. Rufat Abdullazade went to Croatia to play for Varajdin. Does he have a place in the squad there? Because there are thousands of players like him, and the teams there prioritize their own. They say, if we have such a player, why do I need an Azerbaijani? In our country, it is the opposite. They will prioritize a foreigner over an Azerbaijani.
