Today, the mini-football world championship, where 32 national teams will compete in 8 groups, started in Baku. The Azerbaijani national team played its first match in Group A against the Bahrain team. The match ended in a 1:1 draw.
Sport24.az reports that after the match, the head coach of our national team, Elshad Guliyev, answered journalists' questions:
"I said that the first game is very difficult. We were playing at home. The first match was difficult. There was also the pitch factor. The opponents are also preparing strongly against us. This game is already behind us. We will look at the next games. We want to win a successful result and finish first in the group.
- Can the fact that the first game was so difficult have a positive effect on the team, that the opponents are preparing very seriously against us?
- That's right. When we were European champions, we also lost to the Romanians in the first match. Later we gathered and played better. I wouldn't say we played badly against Bahrain. We played well, we had episodes. We conceded a goal from our own mistake. We have time. We will work. We want to prepare better and win.
- Ramiz Chovdarov's invitation to the national team was a surprise for many. Because he was last seen a year ago in the "Zira" team...
- Ramiz lives in Germany, plays there. He is a useful player for us, he is a left-footed football player. I believe that he will show himself from a good side.