The EURO-2024 qualifying round has been concluded.
Idman.biz reports that the Azerbaijani national team failed as usual in the next cycle. Not only the direct final stage, but also the dream of the playoffs, the national team is waiting for the next challenge. The cycle that followed was quite memorable.
“A hope glimmer” for Turkiye
The Azerbaijani national team, coached by Gianni de Biasi, prematurely lost the chance to take one of the first two places that directly qualify for the final stage of the continental championship to be held in Germany. This was nothing new to the fans. But the fact that the Turkish national team qualified for the final stage gave hope and motivation to Azerbaijan.
The chance for the playoffs was approaching for our team, which was the second in the group and ranked 6th in League C of the League of Nations. This success of one of the 5 teams ahead of us - the representative of the brotherly country - was the first step for our team to compete in the "fourth" in March next year. If one of the other 4 national teams - Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan - reached the final stage, our team would have a chance for the playoffs. Although Georgia said goodbye to it in advance, the other three teams kept their fans and fans of our national team waiting until the November meetings. But in the end, the dream of our team, which wanted to rejoice in the success of others, came to naught.
Everything ended as it began
Our national team finished in the 4th place in the 5-team group with 7 points. This resulted in the team receiving enough criticism. But if we are realistic, if we look not at the distant past, but at 13 months ago, we will see that everything ended as it began. We are talking about the draw of October last year. Belgium finished the qualifying stage 1st, Austria 2nd, Sweden 3rd, Azerbaijan 4th, Estonia 5th pot according to their status.
Yes, our national team has taken its place according to its strength. But the team was chasing its tail.
If we look at the FIFA rating of the group members, Azerbaijan was the 5th in the group both before the draw and before the start match, as well as on the eve of the finish. The team that passed the 4th place Estonia in the tournament table will probably be able to overtake the representative of the Baltic country in the next FIFA ranking. Belgium maintained its status in all the mentioned lists by occupying the 1st place, while Austria managed to leave behind the ranked Sweden.
Two steps back, three steps forward
At the time of the draw that took place 13 months ago, the Azerbaijani national team, which was in the same group as Belgium, which was ranked in the "Top-5" of the FIFA rating, Sweden, which was in the "25th" and Austria, which was one of the 35 strongest, is in the third "tenth" of the second "hundred" - He was ranked 123rd. At that time, Estonia was more advanced than us, but the balance of forces seemed different. Last fall, optimistic and demanding fans predicted more points, while pessimists predicted fewer points, but the majority thought "6 points from Estonia". Those who expected our national team to beat the non-football country opponent twice understood the difficulty of getting points from Belgium, Austria and Sweden, which have enough players in the "Big Five" leagues and leading clubs. De Biasi’s players spoiled this simple prediction in Baku. Our team played a terrible game against Estonia, weaker than itself, and barely won a single point. The two potential points lost were insured by the defeat against Sweden. An unmotivated opponent was disappointed with three clean sheet goals in Baku.
Record and tradition
The unexpected victory over Sweden was as traditional as it was unexpected. During the history of our national team, in most periods, it has been remembered for spoiling an opponent. Switzerland (1:0), Slovakia (2:0), Finland (1:0), Turkiye (1:0), Serbia and Montenegro (2:2, 2:1), Portugal (1:1), Croatia (0:0) ...
The Azerbaijani national team, which did not win in the last two qualifying rounds, managed to win 2 matches this time. This paved the way for new records. Our national team achieved the best result in its history in groups of 5 teams. The national team that played 8 games in WC-1998, EURO-2004, EURO-2020 and WC-2022 did not always take the last place. For the first time, the 4th team in the 5-team group achieved the best results in wins (2), goals scored (7), points (7), defeats (5) and goals conceded (17).
Got the nose out of joint
The records of the team, which collected one point in each of the last two qualifying rounds, and the results corresponding to its position in the basket, showed a higher result than in the rating, giving reasons to call the conclusion of EURO-2024 satisfactory, if not good. But the fans who are angry and leave the stands empty, De Biasi and the media who are critical of the team show the exact opposite. This is not unreasonable. Yes, it gave the result it deserved due to its stacking power. But they “could not jump higher than before”.
This factor is one of the reasons for dissatisfaction with the results. The formation of the opinion of "the strongest team in history" gave reason to expect more from the team. At present, some of the core members of the national team continue to write history in Europe with "Qarabag", and some of them stand out for their good performances in clubs of foreign countries. It was worth expecting more from a team whose players, whose players lived a legionary life for so long and at this level, are not remembered. For this reason, the idea that "they are cut off from the ground" is appropriate. Yes, it seemed impossible for us to pass Romelu Lukaku's Belgium or Marcel Zabitserli's and David Alabaly's Austria, whose transfer was several times more than the total sales price of all our players. This was not required from any team... The fans, the press, and the entire football community wanted to see a fighting, determined team that fought until the end.
Two different teams
In the selection stage, we saw a team with the characteristics we mentioned. But... During the cycle, there were two different teams with almost the same players. Playing against Belgium, Austria, Sweden at home and away against Estonia, the fighting Azerbaijani national team was supported with respect and love even when they lost. If he had passed the entire cycle at this level, the team's overall performance would probably have been considered satisfactory. Perhaps the extension of De Biasi’s contract would not have been so widely discussed. But our team, reminiscent of the UGIM student who appeared helpless in another match against each of the same opponents, appeared in front of a professional football player, clearly demonstrated its instability. It is the Italian who is responsible for the fact that the team, which looks the same in half of the games of the stage, is not always in the same tone. And he could not completely cope with it.
Toward millions
Apart from instability and inability to jump above the neck, the main cause of dissatisfaction with the national team is the head coach himself. In many conferences and interviews with the foreign press, the Italian "from above" gave his "conquest" after the last match in Belgium. By insulting Azerbaijani sports journalists, the expert tried to humiliate not only the press, but also our country, which has been eating bread for many years. This dealt a decisive blow to his expiring contract and his future in our team.
In fact, De Biasi’s "idiots" are no strangers. Many experts brought in from big football countries attracted attention with their "cheating" by eating millions. At one time, Berti Vogts also showed that he always considered himself superior because he came from Germany. Perhaps their behavior is related to the fact that they have a different football mentality. But such people do not deserve not only millions, not only pennies, but even our breath to use "stupid" expressions.
Eyes on Paris
The dream of EURO-2024 and the tale of De Biasi are over. The eyes are already on the next cycles. Until then, we need to find a new head coach, we need to choose someone who is local, or someone who respects our country and its citizens, and who will not force AFFA officials to apologize for every word they say.
In just 78 days - on February 8, 2024, the draw for the new season of the Nations League will be held. Our team, which will play again in the C league, should prepare for the autumn matches and bring the fans back to the stands with their game there.
PS as you read this article, the Executive Committee of AFFA is discussing the case of Gianni de Biasi in an emergency meeting and is preparing to decide on his future. Now the main issue is who will replace him.
Hussain Vagif
Idman.biz