FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Albania aims to make history with a first qualification to a World Cup. In parallel with the goal of the World Cup, the team led by coach Silvinjo has also learned the opponents within the Nations League. In League C, Albania will face Finland, Belarus and San Marino, teams that are expected to test the ambitions of the Rossoneri in this competition.
In an interview with journalist Trevisa Tufa on the "Sport News" show on News 24, former national team striker Alban Bushi, currently coach of the U-21 national team, spoke about the long-standing dream of qualifying for a major tournament like the World Cup. Bushi emphasized the importance of this objective for Albanian football, describing it as a long-standing aspiration of the sport in the country.
He also analyzed Albania's rivals in the Nations League, assessing the level of the opponents and the challenges the team is expected to face in this group. According to Bush, the matches with Finland, Belarus and San Marino require maximum concentration and seriousness, despite the differences in ranking or history.
Bushi, the World Cup dream has captured the attention of every tournament, event, or anything that happens around Albanian football. Is this the peak, the highest point we have reached?
I think yes, the World Cup has been a dream for all Albanians. The dream of the World Cup is fully deserved.
In March we play the most important matches in history, but another important event is the Nations League. The day before, we met our rivals. Albania is in League C, while the draw placed us in a group with Finland, Belarus and San Marino. What do you think of this draw?
The draw seems good to me, in League C there are no stronger or better teams than us. Finland will be the rival we will compete with for first place. Belarus is a good team, but it can. San Marino, no need for comment. I think Albania will test itself, I think we have not done well in the Nations League in recent years and now we have all the opportunities to take first place.
Is Finland our strongest rival? In the past, in 7 matches played, we have 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses. On the other hand, with Belarus in 6 matches we have an equal record, 2 wins. 2 losses and two draws, San Marino 4 wins.
I have participated in the matches against Finland, it is a difficult team. It is a team that stands in the middle of the waters, it is neither up nor down. It has not reached the peaks yet. Two years ago it was pretty good with young players. We played with Finland's U21 and we had a good generation. Now they have moved up to A. Finland will be better than in other years. Nor for Belarus, the facts show that we are better than them. However, they should be evaluated.
Is first place in this League a condition, an indisputable objective?
This league gives you the opportunity to test the team and create an atmosphere. It's a good league, many were skeptical but it got a lot of attention. UEFA removed the friendlies and decided on these matches.
In fact, it was a somewhat rhetorical question, as the Duke set a condition for Silvinho to qualify for the World Cup, at least the playoffs, and not first place in this Nations League group.
The objectives, now Albania has reached a high level, we are at the best moment, both in terms of potential and infrastructure. Now I think that against Poland, the chances are 50/50 to realize everyone's dream.
It's interesting that the Nations League is played in September, while Sylvinho renewed until June. It seems like everything revolves around the World Cup, and I believe the contract is clear?
For the contract, you found the right person to talk to (Laughs). The coach is focused on the March match. We are there in the federation and we are watching. Maybe now the Nations League draw doesn't even come into his mind.
Bushi, in recent years, the Nations League has been used as a test league, in function of the qualifiers. If coach Silvinho leaves I'm afraid it will be seen like this again. Do you think the time has come for the Nations League to be played to win, as a second path to get to the European Championship?
Even though we didn't do well once and then did well, we have to appreciate the games. You grow even by losing, because you get used to it. We don't have the luxury of taking them lightly. It's one thing to be in first place in the Nations League and to go to the European Championship, it's another thing to go to the European Championship even though you're in last place. The motivation is not the same. We have good players, but not of that level to play when they want you. Football is continuity. Now a good, suitable environment has been created.
A strong draw for Kosovo, which this season plays in League B. The scores put Israel, Austria and Ireland in the group. How do you see Kosovo's group, what are its chances of winning?
Happy for Kosovo, after moving up a League. The fact that you will face strong teams does you good. The moment you face strong, you become strong. Kosovo is strong too. The chances are equal for all four teams.
We will have until September to talk about the Nations League. But I want to know, is the atmosphere of the March matches being felt? Or is it still early, there are also elections ahead...
I think the focus is on the match against Poland on March 26. The atmosphere of the players is there, as they manifest and live that part. The public is a little colder. When it gets closer, 10-15 days before, it gets hot. The staff has their minds on Poland.
Unfortunately, the legionnaires are not having a good time, Berisha, Ismajli are injured, Bajrami, Broja, Hysaj, they almost don't play at all, Asllani is having a difficult time, do these details bother you?
Këto probleme Shqipëria i ka patur gjatë gjithë kohës. Lojtarët tanë luajnë në nivele të larta, por nuk janë lojtarë të niveleve të larta. Marrin minuta nga pak dhe ky është problem. Është meritë e tyre që kanë arritur atje, por problem minutazhi. Ndeshja ndaj Polonisë është ndeshje për t’u fituar ose le të themi, duhet barazuar që të shkosh në shtesë. Sido që të jenë lojtarët në klubet e tyre, do ta nxjerrin veten me zemër dhe shpirt.
Ndërkohë, po kalon super formë Ernest Muçi. A beson se do të përfshihet këtë herë nga Silvinjo? Flas për një rol aktiv, jo thjesht i përfshirë në listë?
Muçi ka qënë lojtar me cilësi të mëdha, ka patur përher potencial. Gjeti veten te Trabzon, trajnerin e skuadrës e njoh mirë pasi kemi luajtur bashkë. Muçi? Është lojtar që Shqipëria e ka të nevojshëm. Duhet dhënë mundësia lojtarëve që janë në formë, pasi ata të bëjnë “gjëmën”. Patjetër që do jetë me kombëtaren, por edhe mund të luajë. Trajneri e di më mirë se kushdo tjetër.
Meqë the që keni qënë bashkë dhe keni luajtur me trajnerin, të ka pyetur për Muçin?
Nuk kam kontaktuar. Nëpërmjet një gazetari që ishte live në TV, mora edhe unë pjesë në bisedë. Diskutimi ishte te ana defensive e Muçit. Ishte shumë e rëndësishme, faktikisht, Muçin ia kam sugjeruar edhe kur ishte te Tirana skuadrës së Trabzonsporit, por trajneri nuk e pëlqeu dhe iku te Legia e Varshavës.
Çfarë duhet të bëjë Muçi për të qënë pjesë e kësaj kombëtarje?
Trajneri Silvinjo e ka thënë mirë, që do edhe anën difensive, jo vetëm ofensive. Seferi për një kohë të gjatë në formacion, ishte ngaqë tërhiqej edhe mbrapa. Ti duhet të bësh atë që trajneri kërkon. Unë mendoj që pjesë e kombëtares do jetë, pastaj nuk e di nëse Muçi do jetë. Nuk kemi lojtarë tjetër më në formë se sa Muçi. Trabzonspor është ekip i vështirë për të luajtur, nëse nuk luan mirë të përzejnë.
Një diskutim i ngjashëm është edhe me Anis Mehmetin, apo nuk është koha për të eksperimentuar? A mendon se Silvinjo mund të ndryshojë diçka kundër Polonisë?
Ai do dojë të ndryshojë diçka, por mbetet e vështirë. Nuk është ndeshje për eksperimente. Mbase, trajneri do një ekip që njeh lojën e tij. Është ndeshje e vështirë me Poloninë dhe do që të jetë në ekuilibër. Ndoshta do ndryshojë në formacion, por e shikoj të vështirë.
Pyes për Muçin, për Mehmetin, pasi lojtarë si Broja e Bajrami nuk luajnë, ndërsa Asani nuk preferohet më. A mund të kemi elementë të rinj për ndeshjet e marsit?
Mund të kemi patjetër, por do jetë gjithçka në ekuilibër. Ndeshja është deçizive. Mund të merren shumë lojtarë, pasi janë dy ndeshje. Një pjesë e atyre mund të rrinë në tribunë. Edhe mund të ketë ndonjë prurje të re, por formacioni do jetë 80-90% ai që ka qënë gjithmonë.
Silvinjo appreciates you a lot, he mentions you often in his statements. You have supplied the A team with quality elements, have we prepared any other gifts, any new elements?
I have but I haven't shown them. We have 2-3 very good players. We have four, let's say, but two are 100% sure to come. I think they will soon be in the national team A and I am happy that they will be with us. I won't say the names but it is a right back, a striker, a midfielder, again a striker, there is also a defender born in 2009.
Are you worried about Poland, Bush at this point, tell me honestly, what do you feel? Can we go to the World Cup?
With Poland I am convinced and sure that we will pass. Then the second game, I don't want to talk, because I don't know if it will be Ukraine or Sweden. It's very good that we will play there. The Polish team is afraid of us. They don't feel good with us. We are also the ones who have our claims. A draw is good for what is weak on paper.
Who do you want in the final?
I would like Ukraine, as it plays on neutral ground.
Lini një Përgjigje