"WE WAITED FOR THIS FOR SIX YEARS"

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fter the three consecutive defeats of the national football team of Azerbaijan in the qualifying stage of Euro 2016, the fans were pleased by juniors. The U-17 team (teenagers below 17) won a place in the elite round with their successful performance in the qualifying stage of the European Championship. After the 0:3 defeat by Belgium in the group stage, Mirbagir Isayev's team defeated Switzerland with a score of 2: 1. Losing the last match with Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, the Azerbaijani junior football team took third place in their subgroup. At the same time, they showed one of the five best results among the teams that ranked third, which gave them the opportunity to make it into the elite round.

Opponents of Azerbaijan's national team in the elite round will be determined after the draw on December 3 in Nyon, Switzerland. The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups. The 15 teams that take first and second places in their groups will gain the right to participate in the final stage, which will take place in Bulgaria. They will be joined by the host of the final round. The team with the worst result among the runners-up will stay out of this stage.

AFFA General Secretary Elxan Mammadov, who followed the performance of the juniors in the Belgian city of Eysden, praised the fighting spirit of our players: "First of all, congratulations to all, including the players who showed great will and perseverance. In the last two games, they proved that they are a real team where players are capable of helping each other. Losing in the course of the game, our national team managed to change the course of the game both times, earning three points in the game against Switzerland and one point - in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. For us it is a great success. After 4-5 years, our team won a place in the elite round again. Of course, it pleases us. Hopefully, they will also demonstrate good performance there."

R+ talked with head coach Mirbagir Isayev about the chances of the U-17 team in the elite round.

- Are you satisfied with the team's performance in the qualifying stage of the European Championship?

- For the fact that our team won a place in the elite round of the European Championship, I'm first of all grateful to God. I express my gratitude to the AFFA leadership for their help in the formation of the team, as well as for creating conditions for the organization of periodic training sessions. When we started to work at this time last year, AFFA technical director Bernhard Lippert asked: "Will the U-17 team be able to get into the elite round?" I said: "95 per cent." We talked about it with the secretary general. The most important thing in any endeavour is faith. We were obliged to justify the confidence placed in us. Thank God, we passed the initial stage of the European Championship successfully. We achieved this first of all thanks to the players' will and character. The guys fought for every piece of the field, sparing no effort.

- Was it difficult to prepare the players for the match with Switzerland after losing the first game?

- In the first game we lost to Belgium with a big score. They were very strong in terms of athletics. Most of the players of this team are playing in the championships of England, Germany and Holland. Most of our national team players play in leagues for young players. But these guys showed their character and managed to get a grip on themselves after losing with a big score. Although in the course of the game with Switzerland, we were losing, we managed to win, scoring two goals. In the last game, we played with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before this match, we had the same indicators in points, goals scored, goals lost and the number of yellow cards. It was important to prepare the guys well psychologically. Although we had to fight back again, the team showed its character and equalized before the break. Then there was a penalty shootout. After the second strike, we were ahead - the opponents were unable to use their chance. But the penalty shootout is like a lottery. We had no luck. However, we managed to get into the next stage of U-17. This is the result of the efforts of our players. We waited for this result for six years.

- Our players conducted training sessions for about 10 months and played control games under your leadership. Were you able to get the desired performance from them in official matches?

- We went to the tournament with heavy losses. Seven or eight players were missing. Injuries and other reasons did not allow Ziya Azizov, Emin Aliyev, Murtuz Abakarov, Said Ibadov, David Dadasov and Ziya Mammadov to join the team. The absence of so many players was a big loss for us. But it's pleasing that we had a choice. This opportunity was created by the coaches, of course. After all, the coach watches championship games and organizes control matches where players can be checked in full force. We tied with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying stage, but lost with a score of 0:5 in another tournament earlier. However, in that game we discovered Haciaga Haciyev, who is now the team captain. He achieved this with his own efforts and hard work. Now we have two U-17 teams - A and B.

- I wonder why you named precisely the goalkeeper after playing with Switzerland.

- Because he was a godsend. At the training session in Baku and Croatia, we checked all the goalkeepers. Some were not able to join the team because of injuries.

- Most of the players who got a place in the national team play in leagues organized by AFFA. Do you think this will be an incentive for the selection of players of these leagues?

- Only two players play abroad, Kazim Birkan in Turkey and Ruslan Bediyev in Georgia. Others play for local clubs. This indicates that there's enough material. You just have to work with it. Discipline must be in the first place. As for the results of games played 10 months before the start of the qualifying round, they were not that important as we were in the process of selection. The most important thing is official matches. As for the stimulus, it's necessary to create it in the clubs. I should note one fact. Two of our players were eyed by foreign clubs. Their transfer was prevented by the lack of knowledge of the language, which is essential for establishing communication.

- What are the plans in preparations for the elite round?

- I should emphasize: if the team had not made it into the next stage, I would have resigned. And it's too early to talk about plans. My contract has already expired. We will talk if I get an offer.