FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Albanian national team has closed its second adventure in a major tournament such as the European Championship. The Reds did not manage more than one point in Group B where they had to do with Spain, Italy and Croatia.
However, the game of the footballers selected by Sylvinho has pleased everyone, including the president of the AFL, Armand Duka.
The first in Albanian football and the second most powerful man in European football as UEFA vice-president, Armand Duka spoke in an interview to Telegrafin about everything.
Duka has given his answers about the appearance of the Albanian National Team in Euro 2024, Sylvinho's contract, Mirlind Daku's punishment by UEFA or even about hot topics such as the reception of football players from Kosovo and the organization of the 2027 European Championship for the U21 age group with Serbia.
There was also a comment about the fines that the AFL received in Euro 2024, being the second most punished country with 171,375 thousand euros.
- We were in the Hell Group in Europe where we faced big names like Croatia, Spain and Italy, how satisfied are you with the performance of the National Team?
Duka: Albania has made a very good appearance in this European Championship, despite the fact that we were in the "group from hell" with teams that have been declared European and World champions several times, such as Spain and Italy, or even Croatia, which was a finalist in the Cup of World Cup 2018 or semi-finalist in these important football competitions.
Of course we could do better, we played well in all three games, or to be more precise, in the second half of the match against Italy and in the matches against Croatia and Spain. With a bit of luck, we could have won it against Croatia, just as the match could have ended in favor of the Croatians.
But we showed that we had not gone there for vacation and we played hard, with grit and were there until the last minute of the game, where we scored the equalizer against Gjasula and had another opportunity to send the numbers to 3-2. But this is football, these are the emotions that this sport gives and we have to accept the result in the end. In general, I am quite satisfied with what our team did on the pitch in this European Championship, but I have said and will continue to say that we could have got more in the three games, if we had dared, if we had believed more . But, I really thank the fans for the emotions, all the staff and of course the Albanian fans who shone in Germany, in every city, in every square and in every stadium.
- Before the European Championship, did you expect more or did your expectations increase after the first match?
Duka: Since the draw was made in December and we learned that we will be in a group with Spain, Italy and Croatia, we knew it would be difficult, but the word 'impossible' does not exist in our minds. But to grow in the game, of course you have to play with the champions. In the finals of a European championship, every team gives more than 100% on the field. We have claimed from the first game to get points, despite the fact that we did not succeed. But no one enters the field with the objective of being lost. It is logical. We didn't get the results we deserved, I'm upset about that. But I am satisfied with the performance of the team on the field.
– The second time we participate in a European Championship, which Albania has pleased Armand Duka more, the one in 2016 or 2024?
Duka: The first time there were certainly more emotions, since it had never happened before that Albania qualified for the finals of a European Championship. In France I wasn't under too much pressure about the result, it was great to win a game and we could have qualified for the last 16 if Portugal didn't have a better goal difference than us.
But in this European, among other things, I had a lot of pressure for the result. I believed that we would get better results, for that I can say that I am a little 'disappointed', but I do not feel that way about the beautiful game and the performance of the team in this journey.
– Sylvinho's contract expires, will it be extended or not? And how satisfied are you with the work of the selector?
Duka: Silvinho's contract is over after the European Championship. We have actually proposed the renewal since January. At the moment the coach is on vacation and next week we will meet to discuss this topic and continue the work. Of course we want to sign the contract as soon as possible and continue working together.
I think Sylvinho has done a good job, under his leadership Albania qualified for Euro 2024 after a very good qualifying season, where he performed very well in all the matches and managed to finish first in the group like never before seen. The coach has created a positive atmosphere in the team in a very short time and the results speak volumes for the work done.
- We know that it is difficult for you to speak with names, but which of the players has left the most impression in the European Championship, name some of them?
Duke: It's really hard. We have a team of stars, in fact, from the gate with Thomas, who shone in all three matches of this European, continuing with the defense, midfield and attack. The left wing defender, our super Mario, as well as the brain of the team, Kristian Asllani, continues to leave me speechless and amazes me in every match. But they are all very good, we have a leader in defense like Berat Gjimshiti. Everyone, everyone has left a very good impression on me.
– Mirlind Daku u pezullua nga UEFA me dy ndeshje. Përveç UEFA-s ku ju jeni nënkryetar a ka marrë masa edhe FSHF për atë apo thjesht e keni kuptuar futbollistin që e kanë kapluar emocionet?
Duka: Sigurisht që kemi folur me futbollistin për atë që ndodhi. Ai e ka kuptuar dhe e ka thënë edhe vetë që është përfshirë nga emocionet në ato momente, por normalisht duhet pasur kujdes pasi në futboll nuk ka vend për racizëm, nuk ka vend për ofendime, nuk ka vend për gjeste anti-sportive. Futbolli ka fuqinë dhe misionin për të bashkuar njerëzit e popujt.
– Çfarë premio kanë pasur futbollistët për kualifikimin në Euro 2024 dhe na thuaj se çfarë premio kanë pasur për Kampionatin Evropian?
Duka: Futbollistët dhe stafi kanë marrë një premio të majme për kualifikimin në Kampionatin Evropian, sigurisht edhe bonuse për çdo ndeshje të fituar në kualifikueset e këtij kampionati. Gjithsesi, pjesëmarrja në finalet e një Kampionati Evropian është në fakt bonusi më i madh që merr skuadra.
– FSHF është federata që ka paguar më së shumti dënime në Euro 2024 pas Kroacisë, si i ke parë këto dënime?
Duka: Sigurisht që askujt nuk i pëlqen që të gjobitësh aq shumë. Në tre ndeshje jemi gjobitur për të njëjtat arsye, për transmetimin e mesazheve anti-sportive, hedhjet e sendeve, ndezjen e flakadanëve, pushtimin e fushës. Megjithatë, vendimet kur janë të drejta respektohen dhe nuk diskutohen.
– Pas 2 pjesëmarrjeve në Kampionate Evropiane, a duhet të presin tifozët ta shohin Shqipërinë në një Kampionat Botëror dhe kur mund të ndodhë një gjë e tillë?
Duka: Gjërat merren me radhë. Fillimisht kemi Ligën e Kombeve që nis në shtator dhe ne objektivi ynë është të ngjitemi në Ligën A. Luajmë përballë ekipeve si Republika Çeke, Ukraina e Gjeorgjia. Të gjithë e pamë se çfarë me grinte e pasioni luajtën këta të fundit në këtë Evropian, duke mposhtur Portugalinë e duke konkurruar denjësisht Spanjën. Pastaj është edhe Kampionati Botëror dhe objektivi ynë është sigurisht kualifikimi në finalet e Botërorit “Amerikë 2026”. E dëshirojmë pafund dhe jam i sigurt që me këtë skuadër yjesh që kemi, ëndrra mund të bëhet së shpejti realitet.
– Ka shumë zhurmë rreth futbollistëve nga Kosova që kalojnë në ekipet e moshave në Shqipëri. A keni ndonjë marrëveshje me FFK-në për mos t’i marrë lojtarë njëra tjetrës?
Duka: Me Federatën e Kosovës, me mikun tim Agim Ademi kemi marrëdhënie fantastike, të shkëlqyera. Nuk e shoh aspak shqetësuese këtë zhurmë, përkundrazi. Është shqetësuese kur shqiptarët luajnë për përfaqësuese si Zvicra, Italia, etj., por jo kur përfaqësojnë ngjyrat kuqezi. Çdokush e ka derën e hapur në Kombëtaren tonë.
– Kur keni vendosur për kandidaturën me Serbinë për Euro 2027, a keni menduar se mund të merrni shumë kritika nga shqiptarët, sidomos në Kosovë?
Duka: There have been many reactions from fans, but also from individuals, in Kosovo and Albania, also before my family of the Football Federation. We analyzed it for a long time before announcing the candidacy, but I think that they have also done it, even from the political point of view, they have looked further, they have thought about the message that this cooperation can give. I have considered it as a strong weapon to win this race and secure this championship, because the message it gives is very important.
It is a message of peace, tolerance, cooperation and coexistence. I know very well that someone has the right to be affected by this, because the wound is fresh, but we have to look further, we have to learn to live together. It is in our hands to contribute to leaving our children a world as peaceful as possible. If everyone works in this direction, conflicts will be smaller. Certainly, we do not forget what happened and the more we learn about what happened, we must fight for peace. / Telegraph
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