Yashar Vahabzadeh: "We defeated Norway in away match"

Baku. 17 October. REPORT.AZ/ “Generally speaking, the national team's performance is not satisfactory. Because the national team could score 3 points in the qualifying round," Former head coach of Azerbaijani national team Yashar Vahabzade told Report speaking about the team's performance at the European Championship qualifying group stage. The 58-year-old specialist said he had difficulty comparing the team with his own time: "In my time when I was a coach, we defeated Norway in away match. At that time, it was a completely different age group. Now there are other players. That's why it's a little difficult to compare. Every age group has its own peculiarities. "

Vahabzade believes that his successor Rashad Sadigov has made the right choice by giving a chance to younger players in the last matches: "Those players will also be able to participate in the next round. There was nothing we could do at this qualifying stage. That's why the head coach selected 6-7 of the younger players in the last games. Perhaps, the main purpose is to perform well in the next cycle. This team includes players of a certain age group. Therefore, it is impossible to perform at the same level at every qualifying stage."

The former coach also spoke about the chances of the U-21 players to rise to the main national team: "I've read some of Gurban Gurbanov's interviews. Gurbanov watched the matches of this age group and liked some of them. The names are not disclosed. Participation of players in the main squad depends on themselves. They are still 20-21 years old. If they work well, they can do everything. If any player performs at U-21, that means he has a perspective. In the future, playing in main squad depends on himself. "

An experienced specialist also spoke about the possibility of the UEFA National Team's upcoming event and the next stage: "The last game of the national team was criticized. The team did not play badly with Malta. We had goal episodes but could not take advantage of them. Generally speaking, our game was not bad. We had the main advantage. We also made goal moments. The ball did not want to hit the net. Each player can fail to score a goal. The national team still has a chance. Everything is in our hands. We have to win two games. It will be solved in the game with Kosovo. "

Notably, Yashar Vahabzade has been working as a head coach of the Azerbaijani U-21 national football team from January 9, 2015 to September 6, 2017. Under his leadership, U-21 finished European Championship qualifying round with 9 points (2 victories, 3 draws, 5 defeats). The team defeated Norway 3: 1 on October 10, 2013. At that same time Vakhabzade was the assistant of coach Bernhard Lippert. In the final selection round, Germany, Norway, Ireland, Israel and Kosovo were included in Group V.

U-21 that scored a goalless draw with Kosovo at home under the leadership of Samir Alekperov after the appointment of Rashad Sadigov to this post, the team scored a 1: 1 draw with Israel at home and 1:1 draw with Norway in away match and finished the qualifying round with 3 points in the final.