The press officer of the national team, Ilya Kazakov, persuaded everyone to go to the press conference of the head coach of the national team of the country, Guus Hiddink. The concerns of the person in charge of the media were understandable. Very few journalists came to Bor this time. Another loss of points - and next time only the strongest will remain.
This time at a press conference there was no RFU President Vitaliy Mutko. But it was Hiddink who unexpectedly took on his role, who began to talk about how football will develop. And how much needs to be done for this. He even demonstrated some schemes where the future structure of our football was drawn using a computer. It seemed that now he would say how many fields had been bedded in recent times. But nothing happened.
Hiddink said little about football. He noted that most of our rivals in the qualifying group are higher than us in the FIFA rating (even Israel), criticized the clubs that unsuccessfully performed in European competitions. He took all the blame upon himself, confessing that he had not been able to work well so far. And he often said “we”, referring to the defeat of Lokomotiv and Rubin.
The girl-translator carefully took notes in her notebook, and then quoted Hiddink. It turned out as if she was reading a text from an Internet program, when the words were familiar, but the general meaning could not be grasped.
Due to the fact that the Dutchman did not learn the Russian language (“good afternoon” doesn’t count), communication with this coach dragged on for a long time. And when everyone left the hall, it turned out that the players had already hidden by numbers.
“He came out with such gloomy faces,” one of the colleagues described the picture. - And they dismissed the journalists.
Apparently, Hiddink has failed so far. The team has few points, Russian clubs fly out of European competition, and athletes are in no hurry to demonstrate openness. In general, the victory at the 2012 European Championship is very far.
Vitaliy Mutko came for a short while. He talked for a long time with Vladimir Bystrov (apparently, they recalled the past place of work, where they did better), and then warmly hugged Hiddink, as if he had not seen him for about fifteen years.
- Well, what have you done here! - the head of the football union of activity of photographers who were trying to take pictures of historical hugs was amazed (it is possible that after the next two matches there will be only cold handshakes). Hiddink, on the other hand, tapped Bystrov’s chest and inquired about his business.
“Good,” the footballer giggled and fought off gently.
Vitaly Mutko this time did not arrange any scenes for reporters, he went to the dining room, dined and went to Ljubljana on matters of the RFU. Borodyuk, Hiddink and Korneev, on the contrary, sat in the dining room for a long time. Maybe the Dutchman liked a particular dish?
In training, Gus tried to actively participate in the exercises that he himself proposed. In addition, he brought some new fun when the small gates (two for each team) are put backwards and it is very difficult for the players to hit the target.
As soon as one goal was scored, jokes began characteristic, apparently, for the Russian championship.
“Get on the defensive,” called one of the Berezutsky.
“Let's keep that score,” Denis Kolodin shouted.
- Yes, they are losing the game! - Someone laughed, it is possible that from CSKA.
After training, Alexey Smertin was happy to learn that he was already entitled to a hundred dollars for working as a commentator on one of the TV channels.
“We will definitely transfer money to you, unlike Dynamo,” Ilya Kazakov promised.
- True? - the midfielder was delighted. - This is great. It will cover my fines.
The Dynamo player was trying to find out if someone liked his comment. It was really good, so there was no need to deceive the player.
And Ivan Sayenko unexpectedly admitted that German journalists escorted him to Russia as if to war.
“Even in our press they wrote about how the players of the Lipetsk Metallurg were beaten,” he smiled. - They asked if I was afraid to go. Why be afraid?
Indeed, while the national team players are not afraid of anything. After all, matches with Israel and Estonia have not yet been played.
Alexey Shevchenko