FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The coach of the Albanian national football team, Silvinjo, thinks that if he were given the opportunity to change teams in the Euro 2024 draw, he would not do such a thing. The Brazilian told in an interview for "Sport News" on "News 24" how he is experiencing the days after the draw that determined the journey of the Reds and Blacks in next summer's activity.
Two photos have made the rounds on the network this period, your photo with the red and black flag on your shoulder and your "selfie" with the European Cup trophy. Since we are talking about dreams, can Albania win the European Championship?
It's a beautiful dream, it's a beautiful dream that we were there for the second time, very beautiful. We did very well, it was an important journey, but now that we are there we have to think, as it is a very difficult, strong lot, but we enjoy it. If we joke, anything can happen in football, in a single match anything can happen, but we know that there we have to grow, improve, prove our strength, but it is a beautiful championship.
You have no idea what can happen if you bring that Cup to Albania. I don't know what Prime Minister Rama can give apart from the "Golden Eagle"...
(Laughs) Winning would be crazy, illogical, let alone better not think about what would happen next (laughs)
Okay, back to reality. Tell me the truth, did you think that in less than a year you would be in "Euro2024", among the 24 best teams in Europe, alongside coaches like De La Fuente, Daliç and Spaleti? How did it make you feel?
It is not easy, but when we took on this task, we saw that the opportunity was there. Of course, it was not an easy group, the Czech Republic is strong, Poland is strong, then we also saw Moldova who were there until the end, in the game. But we did well. Then, in the draw, as you say, with important coaches, with important teams in Europe, it is a beautiful dream, it reflects all our work, all the people, the federation, us as staff and of course the players. They are the protagonists, they did very well, it's a beautiful dream.
Mister, you know that you are the only non-European coach in "Euro2024", a Brazilian leading a representative team that has as many inhabitants as Brazil has professional footballers. It looks more like a movie...
Maybe it's not the first time, I remember, when I was a player, I was the first Brazilian player to go to Arsenal. Now the first Brazilian coach, in the world of beautiful European football. This is a beautiful dream for all of us, to leave this part, Brazilian, Spanish, etc., it is something beautiful that Albania goes to a European for the second time, in Germany, that is beautiful.
What did you think in those moments when the goggles took turns taking out the strongest possible teams...
First of all, it was a beautiful evening. Before the draw started, we all knew it was going to be tough. In the coaches there, we joked with each other. Then when we saw the teams in order 1, 2, 3, 4, they were all strong. We knew, we were aware that it wouldn't be easy, but it's fair, when you see Italy in the fourth pot and fall into the group, it becomes a more difficult group, they are all strong. The advantage of the European Championship is that if we want to grow as a team, we have to face stronger teams like these, so it's a draw, it's nice.
Who would you like to remove, tell me just one representative that you would gladly change...
Not me, the president said that he wanted to play the first match with Germany. Germany was in the first group, Spain the second, they were close, almost. We are right there with Spain, not really, when I think about it, I wouldn't change a thing, no.
Is this a luxury lottery for you? In the end, no one will hold to account, if we can say so, a group without the pressure of the result.
I think it's a tough group, but we enjoy it, as a staff and as players. When we talk about pressure, I don't think so. We think to prepare well, go there and do a good European. It's a challenge for us to face Spain, Croatia and Italy, but it's nice, they are important teams who are used to these tournaments, to go to the end, to win. We have our journey, we have to learn to play in Europe, in the World Cup. We have to work to always go there, or almost always, the pressure is well managed, but we know it will be difficult.
It is certain that the players were looking for such rivals, it is a luxury showcase. What about you, is this European a showcase against these rivals?
I think not on an individual level, but on a collective level yes, as a group yes, it is always important, since we as a group achieved those results, the first place. We are one, we have an opportunity to move forward, all together. In this group, we cannot think individually, we must think as a team, as a people. There we can do something important if we all stand together.
We take them in turn, on June 15, you debut against Italy, the reigning champions, how do you feel?
It is a strong debut, Italy is a strong team, with strong players, with a strong coach, they also have a very heavy shirt. I am absolutely convinced, I have not spoken to the players, but I am convinced that they are happy about this match. It will be a beautiful match, in a very beautiful field. Yes, it is difficult, we have to prepare very well
It could be your friend, Mancini, it could be even more special as a challenge. You spoke after the draw, are you going to ask for an opinion, or are you afraid of misinforming?
Do të ishte akoma më e vështirë për të luajtur. Bota e një trajneri, të paktën bota ime, nuk është se kemi 10, 15, 20 miq në të gjithë botën, por kemi një raport më të mirë me 2, 3, 4 miq. Po, një prej tyre është edhe Mançini. Më mori në Itali në 2014 tek Inter, mësova shumë me të. Ne nuk i miksojmë gjërat. Ai sigurisht është një mik, është një italian, ka fituar Europianin me Italinë, e njeh skuadrën në detaje, njeh lojtarët, por jo nuk flasim për kështu gjërash, me të flas për gjëra të tjera të jetës.
Sa e njihni Italinë, këtë ekip? Duka e kishte tmerr nuk e donte në short, është realisht kaq i fortë ky ekip?
Po, skuadra është e fortë. Mbase presidenti nuk e donte Italinë, se dëshironte Gjermaninë. Ata janë mësuar të luajnë në këto nivele, të ecin përpara, me lojtarë të fortë fizikisht, teknikisht dhe taktikisht, po janë një skuadër e fortë.
Sa shanse kemi për t’i marrë qoftë dhe një pikë, nuk e kemi bërë kurrë në të kaluarën?
Varet nga ne. Duhet të përgatitemi shumë mirë për këtë debutim të vështirë. Gjeja më e bukur në botë, në profesionin tonë, janë ato 90 minuta. Në ato 90 minuta mund të ndodhë gjithçka. Ne duhet të përgatitemi mirë. Është e vërtetë, ata janë të fortë, por të shohim, të përgatitemi mirë, por pjesa më e bukur janë ato 90 minuta aty.
Nga Berisha te Gjimshiti, Hysaj, Ismajli, Asllani, Ramadani, Bajrami, të gjithë në Serie A. sa na favorizon ky detaj…
Ata e njohin shumë mirë futbollin italian dhe futbollistët, por edhe ne e njohim pasi futbolli italian shikohet në të gjithën botën. Është bukur gjithsesi që këta lojtarë luajnë në Itali dhe do të luajnë kundër kësaj skuadre. Më kujtohet kur shumë brazilianë luanin në Itali dhe ishte Botërori i 1982-it, unë isha fëmijë atëherë, por mbaj mend Zikon, Sokrates, Falkao e të tjerë. Për ata ishte diçka speciale të luanin kundër Italisë, kështu që edhe për futbollistët shqiptarë do të jetë një sfidë akoma më e bukur.
I besoni krizës së Italisë, duket sikur janë në momentin e tyre më të vështirë…
Nuk i besoj për asgjë. Italia, Brazili, Argjentina, Gjermania nuk kanë krizë, janë të fortë gjithnjë. Pastaj Europiani është pas 6 muajsh dhe nuk mund të bësh parashikime, por do ta them, Italia është e fortë.
Më 19 qershor luajmë kundër Kroacisë, a është kjo sfida ku Shqipëria mund të bëjë rezultat, nuk jemi përballur kurrë më parë, por është një derbi ballkanas…
Është një ndeshje e vështirë ashtu si e para, Kroacia ka futbollistë shumë të fortë, janë mësuar të luajnë në Europian dhe Botëror, ku shkuan edhe në finale në vitin 2018. Kam pasur dy futbollistë tek Interi, Marcelo Brozoviç dhe Mateo Kovaçiç, që janë shumë të fortë. Por edhe të tjerët janë të një niveli të lartë, kështu që për mua është një skuadër tepër e fortë. Gjithsesi, ne do të provojmë, edhe pse e vështirë, ashtu si e para.
As Kroacia nuk vjen në kushte perfekte, duket një ekip në fundin e një cikli…
I've been hearing this for 6 years, but in the mean time they're still going strong, you never know. Then it's a beautiful thing in an event like this, everything is played in 30 days, so the footballers give their best on the field. It's not a championship that lasts 8 months and you can think of recovering, even the Champions League isn't like that because you have the groups and two games in the direct elimination stage. In Europe, everything is life in 30 days. This makes the European even more beautiful, you can't say I'm tired, I'm not in shape today, everyone gives their best there. I am 49 years old and if given the chance, I would train hard and give everything on the field.
Is this the most important challenge of this group, it is the second match...
No, all three challenges are the same, even the points are the same. If we have to do something, we have to try to get points in all the games. It's hard, tough challenges, I can't share them. I can't find anything to call one slightly different, they are all difficult.
In the end we close with Spain, we have very negative history and statistics with them, we also suffered a 9-0 loss, do we have any chance here?
Look, this is the last challenge of the group. Spain since winning the 2010 World Cup with Iniesta's goal has been a crazy team for me. They have kept up the pace, anyone who has faced Spain knows how tough and strong they are, not only in possession but also with players of a high technical level playing beautiful football, so it will be incredibly strong. For me it is certainly special because I lived 8 years in Spain, 5 of which were in Barcelona. I know they are strong.
Everyone knows you in Spain, you won the Champions League with Barcelona, but you know Spain, are there any weak points?
We know Spain, they are doing well now, just like they were a few years ago when they were at their peak. All teams have weak points, but they are very strong anyway. I have to study them, it's 6 more months, I'll see what we can do to make it work. But we have to prepare 3 matches, all different, physically, tactically and technically. We must use the European responsibly, but in my opinion, we must grow, move forward. So these 6 months we will see the European as an opportunity to grow, unlike those who are not in the National Team.
How many chances does it give to Albania, how many chances do we have to pass this "hell" group?
It depends on how many points we get, how strong we are on the field, in 90 minutes anything can happen. For us, the good and beautiful thing is that we all dream. We made an important journey, but now we have to take advantage of this opportunity, work hard and finally see. We have to try even the smallest of chances and that's how we can move forward. We will be there and try our best.
Lini një Përgjigje