Duka: The best qualifiers in the history of Albania, let's pass the group to the European

2024-04-12 13:35:00, Sport CNA

The president of the AFL, Armand Duka, was invited via a live link to the sports show "Sport Elite" directed by the journalist Qeqa Krelani. The head of the Albanian Football Government spoke about the successes achieved during 2023, how the preparations are going before the finals of the European "Germany 2024" and the expectations in Group B against opponents such as Italy, Croatia and Spain.

Among other things, the number one of Albanian football also spoke about the meeting of coaches participating in EURO 2024, which was held in Germany, regarding the changes in the final list with the number of participating football players and underlined that at the meeting of the EC of UEFA, he will support the idea of ??the technician of the Albanian National Team, who wants the list to remain with 23 players.

Below is the full interview of the President of the AFL, Armand Duka, on the sports show "Sport Elite":

- President, you are the most important Albanian in the world of football because you represent the most important position so far, which is the position of Vice President of UEFA. You have lived with the good things, the joys, the challenges, the tears but also the triumphs of the National Team. Besides the second European qualification, what are you most proud of?

- First of all, allow me to thank you for the invitation and for the opportunity, I also thank you for your support for Albanian football for the National team and at the same time I greet the former football player and now coach, Debatik Curri, who has a lot of contribution and merit in the results of the National Team. The results do not come in one day, but are the result of continuous work and the contribution of all football players, despite the fact that the main credit goes to those who are on the field today.

The qualifying edition has been fantastic for me, very good, the best done by the National team which has given us the greatest pleasure because it finished in first place and qualified for the second time in the European finals. It also gave us a spectacle, very good results against teams that we had never done in history, like the Czech Republic or Poland. He gave us beautiful goals, endless emotions and obviously we had difficult moments and boredom, but it was a beautiful end. I am grateful to all those who made this a reality, the team, the management staff, coach Silvinjo for everything he has done, the entire Albanian public opinion not only within the borders, because this is a national team and not a state team and also I am very grateful to the fans who have unsparingly supported the National Team, more than any other time.

- President, how many points do you think we can get in the group and which team do you think we will beat?

- In "Euro 2024" we have to look ahead. We should definitely enjoy and enjoy what we have achieved, but let's look ahead to what we will do and what we can do in Germany. At the moment, I want to say that we are all working very hard together, from an organizational and technical point of view, to prepare the European as best as possible in all aspects. I have said it other times that I really want mainly the footballers but also the fans who will come to Germany to really enjoy the European Championship in the first place, as we are part of a very important competition, for me the most important in the world of football in general. So everyone can enjoy it and why not fight to pass the group. We are aware of what we have in front of us, for the strength of Italy as the reigning European champions for its history and the qualities it has inside, also Croatia and Spain as former world champions. We also have a good team, which did very well in the qualifiers with growing players. I don't know how many points we will get, but I can say that we will do our best from the first game against Italy and let's wait for what the pitch will produce.

- In the Italian media it is said that coach Silvinho has asked not to change the number of players in the European Championship, that is, to remain 23 and not 26. Silvinho is one of the few coaches who is defending the scheme with 23 players, unlike other coaches who want 26 players in European. If this is true, why is Silvinho defending this scheme when it is known that you have very strong competition in attack?

- It is true that in Germany there was a meeting of coaches participating in EURO 2024. They discussed and consulted because there were requests for UEFA to change the limit number of participating footballers for each team of the European Championship. It was discussed technically and I also know the fact that Silvinjo, despite not being part of the discussion, but his opinion is to remain with 23 footballers on the list. He is not the only one, they are divided in two opinions. Some think of 23 footballers on the roster and some 26. Everyone has their own arguments, pros and cons for these changes. All these opinions will be gathered and come for approval to the UEFA Executive Committee meeting on May 22 in Dublin, Ireland. If I am going to give my opinion, at the EC meeting I will support what the coach of Albania thinks. Not that I'm technical, but I'll support what he says. His arguments are that 23 footballers can be managed better and with more results during all the preparations for the European Championship, during the days we will be there and in the game. You will not remove footballers to leave them in the stands, which can spoil the atmosphere of the team, but they will all be active on the field and on the bench. But also in management because in football, all training programs are done with 22 footballers and a 23rd goalkeeper who can stay out of the field.