FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Albanian national team is preparing for the finals of the European Championship "Germany 2024" at the base camp in Kaiserau. When we are still a few days away from the first match with Italy, the President of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, conducted an interview on News 24 with journalist Trevisa Tufa.
The head of the Albanian football government spoke about the atmosphere, expectations, objectives, opponents of group B and how preparations are going on the eve of the first match against Italy.
Below is the full interview conducted with journalist Trevisa Tufa:
President, how is the atmosphere, how are these first days of gathering in Kaiserau going?
- Here at the base of the National team, everything is very well organized, the reception from the local authority has been fantastic, from the Albanian community, from their children, everything has been fantastic. Yesterday we also had an open training where many of our supporters participated, but now that the day of the match is coming, the pressure increases, the emotions, more emotions, less smiles.
How are the boys experiencing it, coach Silvinjo, I was impressed, fans standing in the rain following the training session?
-Yesterday in the open training it was rainy, here it is a little colder, a big difference with Albania. The team is preparing very seriously, everything has gone very well, in all aspects, the situation looks good. Now we are in the last days, we are waiting for the first match, the responsibility increases, the excitement increases. Expectations are high, but I also told the boys we don't have to bear the responsibility, let the other three bear it. Our three opponents come to this competition maybe to win, their responsibility is very big, while we have won our European in some way, so we have to play freely, not have extraordinary emotions. Undoubtedly, a match against Italy has the responsibility, but we must have it until it does not damage the sporting condition of the team.
We see you personally very involved, but this time you don't take off your suit, eight years ago you were more sporty, what impressed you the most this time, what would you like to highlight?
- We as Albania, as the National team, as the Federation, are for the second time, we have one more experience. If we look at it from an organizational point of view, in relation to eight years ago, if we look at the conditions now, they are a remarkable change, it is the progress of eight years, it is the experience of eight years. In reality, in this competition we are in very good conditions, but also the climate itself, since some of the teams have it for the second time, all of this makes us different, to be a step ahead. Now from a sporting point of view, sport has all the surprises, our group as you said and you is difficult, I don't know if we will do better or worse in the result, compared to Euro 2016. I am sure that in the game we will do better, I don't know the result.
Two friendly tests, 6 goals scored, one conceded, what did you like and what didn't you like?
- What I have always liked about the team, even during the gathering that can be seen on the field, is the spirit of the team, the positive atmosphere. The national team's slogan: "We are one", has been demonstrated even in friendly matches, I am sure that this will unfold on the field as well, that the team is one, the staff is one, we are all together. We have emphasized, we do not have stars in the team, but we have a compact team with a positive atmosphere, with these we hope to make a result.
Is there something you're afraid of, President, is there something you're afraid of?
- Fear, that's exactly what we shouldn't be afraid of, but respect is. We have three very good opponents, care and increased respect for the quality they have, they are all three very good teams. Italy, our first rival, has very good qualities. Many think that it is not the best Italy, of the past stars, but we saw it in the last friendly, the one against Bosnia, which was very well placed, with qualities, a team that can damage at any moment. So no fear, but watch out for the quality of the rivals. I want to repeat, let's not have emotional overload, let's not give anything away, then in the end let quality or luck make the difference.
There is endless talk about Albania on the net, even the Italians write with great respect, they think we can be a "Cinderella" of this European, do you really believe it? –
- I am realistic and I think that all three teams are very good representatives, they are contenders to win, it would not be surprising if one of them wins the European Championship. On paper, with statistics, with history, we are worse, but in the last qualifiers we did very well, we won the group ahead of Poland, the Czech Republic, so we also made incredible progress. If we take the history, all three teams are much better than us. If we get the last qualifying edition, our team has done well, can handle and can pass this group.
For the Italians, for the media of course, they consider Albania a trial by fire, a match that must be won, this perception has also been created in Albania, that they see Italy as the most likely rival that we can get points from, what do you think?
-Ne nuk duhet ta shohim si provën e zjarrit. Italia, po, për pretendimet që kanë ata janë të dënuar jo vetëm për të kaluar grupin, por për ta fituar, pavarësisht se Italia nuk ka marrë pjesë në dy Botëroret e fundit. Ata duhet ta shohin si ndeshje zjarr, kanë të drejtë ta shohin kështu, pasi në rast të një rezultati negativ me Shqipërinë do ta kenë shumë të vështirë të kalojnë grupin sepse janë edhe dy kundërshtarë të tjerë shumë të fortë. Në llogaritë e tyre, jam i bindur se ata llogarisin tre pikë me Shqipërinë, ndërsa ne nuk kemi pse ta shohim si një ndeshje zjarri, duhet ta shohim si një ndeshje radhe me respekt maksimal për Kampionët e Europës, por me objektiv për t’i sfiduar.
Çfarë pret nga sfida e 15 qershorit, a do të krijohet “muri” kuqezi, keni një informacion sa tifozë shqiptarë mund të jenë në stadium në atë ndeshje?
– Unë jam shumë i sigurt që stadiumi do të jetë më shumë me tifozë shqiptar, jam shumë i sigurt që do ta mbështesin skuadrën, do të jenë një vlerë e shtuar. Ai muri i verdhë do të jetë mur i kuq. Uroj që të gjithë ata që do të jenë në stadium ta shijojnë, uroj që skuadra t’i kënaq më shumë me rezultat se sa me lojë.
President, sporti, mbi të gjitha Kombëtarja bashkon shqiptarët kudo në botë, përveç ish futbollistëve, a do këtë të ftuar të tjerë Vip, Kryeministri Rama, apo Albin Kurti?
– Ne kemi ftuar të jenë pjesë e ndeshjes hapëse me Italinë të gjithë ish-lojtarët e kombëtares, ish-trajnerët, anëtarët e FSHF-së. Padyshim që në stadium do të jetë edhe kryeministri Rama, një pjesë e kabinetit, Ministria e Arsimit, Manasterliu, Taulant Balla, Ministri i Brendshëm, e shumë të tjerë. Kryeministri i Kosovës dhe Ministri i Jashtëm i Kosovës do të jenë në ndeshjen e dytë me Kroacinë, edhe Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë do të jetë në ndeshjen e dytë. Do të ketë shumë mbështetje, por mbështetja më e madhe do të jetë e murit kuqezi.
Tani, pasaportat diplomatike i morëm përpara Europianit, edhe Silvinjon e bëmë shqiptarë, prisni ndonjë dhuratë tjetër nga qeveria, kam përshtypjen se politika është në borxh me sportin?
– Silvinjo është një nga figurat, ai është histori për futbollin shqiptar, për atë që ka kontribuar. Ai po vazhdon të bëjë mirë, unë pres nga qeveria ligjin e sponsorizimit. Klubet kanë nevojë për më shumë financa. Kemi edhe premtimin e ligjeve të basteve, që një pjesë e tyre duhet të kalojë për futbollin dhe sportin në përgjithësi. U tha që do kenë mundësi klubet për reklama, por që në fillim u përjashtuan.
President kemi realisht një objektiv të qartë në këtë grup?
– Në çdo ndeshje do futemi për të fituar. Ne në gjitha ndeshjet, unë iu them se nuk kemi ardhur vetëm për turizëm. Unë e di realitetin. Objektivi jonë është që të kalojmë grupin e pastaj të shikojmë se si do shkojnë gjërat. Unë jam me këmbë në tokë, por natyrisht që kemi një objektiv.
Ndryshe nga Italia, Kroacia dhe Spanja duken në top formë, kujt i druheni më shumë, apo cili është ai skenar që i druheni më shumë?
- The match is not like a match. The friendly differs from the eliminator, or even from the group matches. Now we are on tour and we will see how things go. All 23 opponents are level teams because they have overcome obstacles to get here. I can't say who is stronger and weaker. Nobody got here by accident.
President, Spain did not wait for the European to make public the renewal of the contract with De La Fuente, but what are we waiting for, I believe you discussed this as well, did you find a final agreement?
- We are focused on Europe. I have not heard this news about De La Fuente. We have expressed our wish regarding Silvinho in time. Then he should be the one to show us his desire. The agreement is bilateral, not unilateral.
President, if we pass the group, have you thought about a prize, I believe you have also thought about this?
- We are one of the Federations that have given more bonds than others. We will do the same in Europe, if we have positive results. What motivates the players is the jersey and the flag.
A lot of predictions, algorithms are made in the networks, you as a financier, you know the numbers well, give me a prediction, a configuration of the group?
-Albania first, Italy second, Spain third.
Lastly, are you sorry that Cikalleshi is not there with you, are you sorry for Uzun, who was waiting for this European so much?
-I feel sorry for every player who contributed and was not given the opportunity to be with us. This is football, it doesn't always live up to expectations. I experienced this situation in 2016 as well. There's boredom when you don't gather, there's boredom even when you're on the bench, there's boredom when you don't take a minute. To be part of a European Championship is a major objective. I feel sorry for those who are not, Uzuni, Cikalleshi, Bare, and why not Veseli. The main thing is to be focused, we have to encourage the group. Either way, I'm proud of this team.
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