SHAMEFUL FINISH

The UEFA Nations League football championship concluded with a comprehensive and definitive collapse for the Azerbaijani national team. Under the guidance of head coach Fernando Santos, the team concluded their participation in the tournament in the lowest ranking possible, without securing a single victory. As a result, the Azerbaijani national team has been relegated to League D, where it now ranks as one of the six weakest teams in Europe.

Results and Anti-records

The team's performance resulted in a series of unfavourable outcomes, including a defeat in Sweden, where they finished last in Group 1 of League C. The Santos-led squad suffered a 6-0 defeat, conceding three goals in each half. Rza Jafarov's goal was scored on four occasions by Victor Diekeres and twice by Dejan Kuluszewski. This outcome resulted in the Azerbaijani national team being immediately relegated to League D. Defeats to opponents such as Slovakia and Sweden, who were considered the favourites in their respective groups, were to be anticipated. Nevertheless, the national team's performance in the two matches against Estonia, a relatively weaker opponent, was disappointing, with the team only managing to earn a single point.

It is unfortunate to note that Rza Jafarov, who conceded six goals, is the fifth Azerbaijani goalkeeper to face such an unfavourable situation. In the preceding instances, four goalkeepers had conceded a minimum of six goals in a single game on eight occasions. The player with the most extensive record of conceding the most goals in a single match is Dmitri Kramarenko, who has been responsible for allowing as many as eight goals to be scored against him in a single game. Nizami Sadighov is responsible for conceding seven goals, while Farhad Veliyev and Kamran Aghayev each recorded six goals conceded.

Strangely, despite conceding six goals in the away match, Rza Jafarov demonstrated a superior performance compared to other members of the national team. Moreover, he successfully converted a penalty kick. Nevertheless, the current defensive line was ultimately responsible for ensuring the inevitability of a significant defeat. This was an expected outcome, given the Azerbaijani national team's lack of proficiency in the sport. The defensive line was unable to maintain control, resulting in a series of missteps and ill-advised passes that left spectators visibly disconcerted. In light of these circumstances, prognosticating a promising future for the national team during this challenging period is a challenging and often unacknowledged endeavour.

No Hope?

The Azerbaijani national team finds itself in an unenviable position, with no hope of winning, due to a number of factors. One of the key contributing elements is the long-standing reforms aimed at an unclear image. It is widely acknowledged that there is currently no football academy or educational institution in the country that is fully equipped to function effectively. The number of professional youth coaches is markedly insufficient. The primary strategy employed by clubs to enhance their rosters is to recruit foreign players, a practice that does not contribute to the advancement of national football. In contrast to the cultivation of young athletes, clubs prioritize the attainment of immediate outcomes. Furthermore, the high fees charged by domestic clubs in Azerbaijan deter local players from pursuing opportunities to play for foreign teams. The AFFA, the entity responsible for the promotion of football in Azerbaijan, has appointed the high-priced coach Fernando Santos as the national team's manager and considers its mission accomplished. However, it would be reasonable to suggest that the Portuguese coach cannot be held responsible for creating a strong team from weak players.

Nevertheless, Azerbaijani fans maintain an optimistic outlook regarding victories for both the main national team and teams representing other categories. Such moments are eagerly anticipated. The teams representing Azerbaijan that were engaged in the qualifying round for Euro 2025 have temporarily suspended their efforts. The U-17 and U-19 national teams were unable to secure a victory in any of their six matches, with only one draw between them. In total, both teams achieved one draw and suffered four defeats each. In the course of six matches, the team managed to score a mere three goals, while conceding thirteen. This represents the most significant failure for national teams in the last twelve years. Furthermore, the teams managed to replicate their anti-record from the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons, during which the national teams did not win in twelve consecutive matches.

One of the weakest

The current state of national football among the smaller states is, without exaggeration, truly deplorable. It may be advisable to consider the possibility of attracting foreign professional youth coaches, with the expectation that improvements may be observed within a five-year period. It is evident that the national team is unlikely to satisfy its loyal supporters in this competition.

The Azerbaijani national football team has been scheduled to compete in UEFA Nations League Division D during the forthcoming season. It is now anticipated that the team will compete against teams representing smaller states. This predicament is not solely attributable to the outcomes of individual matches but also to the overall quality of play. The state of football is influenced by a multitude of factors that extend beyond the performance of the main national team.

Which teams will the national team compete against in League D? At the time of writing, three of the potential opponents have been identified. Additionally, Liechtenstein and Andorra, who concluded their participation in the lowest division at the bottom of their respective groups, may also be included. Additionally, Lithuania may be included following its elimination from League C in the lowest-ranked group. The remaining two teams will be selected from the second-placed teams in their respective groups, namely Gibraltar and Malta, as well as Latvia and Luxembourg.

The following countries may be included: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Malta, and Luxembourg. In terms of both territory and population, these countries are not even comparable to regions of Azerbaijan; they can only be likened to some of its villages. It is noteworthy that even the national teams of San Marino, which advanced to League C, and the Faroe Islands, which retained their position there, are of a lesser stature in comparison. Of these two countries, Azerbaijan may be said to have a greater area, with a total of 1,648,600 km², whereas the Faroe Islands have a total area of only 1,390 km², representing a ratio of 62:1. Similarly, San Marino has an area of 61 km², which is 1,400 times smaller than that of Azerbaijan.

One is compelled to inquire as to why it is feasible to cultivate national-level football players among a population of 30,000, yet not among a population of 10 million.

A meeting of the AFFA Executive Committee is scheduled to take place during the first week of December. A report on this situation will be presented by Portuguese coach Fernando Santos.