The Azerbaijani national team was well prepared for the minifootball world championship held in Baku, both physically and tactically and technically.
This was stated to "Report" by Rajab Farajzadeh, the head coach of the Azerbaijani U-23 minifootball team.
He stated that the national team led by Elshad Guliyev is very strong:
"The Azerbaijani national team is very strong, they were well prepared for the world championship. We even finished the national championship in March to create conditions for the national team to prepare properly. Elshad Guliyev prepared his team well both physically and tactically and technically. Our players are very strong individually, in one-on-one fights. Also, unlike other teams, their class is high. This was also clearly visible from the outside. Of the opponents, Mauritania played well physically, and their individual qualities were relatively high. In other components, our team surpassed all its opponents. The games with Romania and England were difficult. True, the Azerbaijani national team was the favorite in these games as well. We just couldn't score because the opponents were closing in. We also had some luck in a certain sense. Overall, the Azerbaijani national team played better than everyone else."
R. Farajzadeh also emphasized that some teams that were considered favorites in the world championship did not meet expectations:
"The national teams of Serbia, Romania, Kazakhstan, and the Czech Republic have always made a very good impression in all world championships. Perhaps there has been a generation change, or something, but this time they did not play at the desired level. Of the teams considered favorites, neither Romania nor Serbia played satisfactorily. I was expecting something from Portugal, because they were playing a game similar to futsal. But it turned out that they are not at such a high level."
It should be noted that the Azerbaijani national team won the title of winner of the competition by defeating Hungary 4:2 in the final of the minifootball world championship.