The press officer of the Estonian national team with an unpronounceable set of vowels and consonants instead of the last name and first name that they had forces pulled the sleeve of the team defender Dmitry Kruglov, when he was about to give an interview to the Russian press.
“It’s impossible, it’s impossible,” said the person responsible for communications with the press. - You can talk with the players only after the match.
- How is it? - restraining themselves, reporters asked.
- Well, how so! - He was genuinely surprised. - Indeed, this is how the teams of Germany and Italy prepare for the games.
Everyone laughed.
Estonians even scheduled a pre-match press conference in St. Petersburg at the same time that Guus Hiddink met with reporters.
“To whom we are interested, they will come,” they explained this decision. - Yes, and it’s more convenient for us, it fits into our schedule.
Journalists were allowed to train Estonians for only 15 minutes (but they started to kick out after 10 - A.Sh.). All this time, the press attaché vigilantly ensured that Russian-speaking football players did not conduct any negotiations. Fortunately, Andrei Stepanov laced the boots on the edge for a very long time.
- Andrey, were you not surprised by the result of the match Russia - Israel?
- I was very surprised. After all, the Russians had a great advantage in the game. And they were obliged to solve all problems long before the final whistle.
- At the end of the match did not flash the idea that you have a chance to take points?
- It was so. Of course, we will try.
- You did not start the tournament very well, lost to the Macedonians and Israelis. Perhaps the mood is unimportant?
- You're right. Unpleasant sediment. But we need to forget about those failures.
It is worth saying that Guus Hiddink was asked about his relationship with compatriot Yelle Gus, who trains Estonians.
“We met once,” Hiddink admitted. - When I worked as the general manager of PSV, I came to the game Estonia - Denmark. After the match, I had dinner with Yelle, but I can’t say that I know him well.
It turns out that dinner did not succeed.
By the end of the training session of the Estonian national team, its fans arrived. There were six of them, but they promised that a hundred would be gathered for the game. In the meantime, they crowded around the team’s bus (the Estonians arrived in St. Petersburg on their vehicles, and rode around the city on it) and enthusiastically greeted the players.
Andreas Oper, while taking pictures with his fans along the way, said that he agreed to a draw:
- This will be a positive result for us. The main thing is that we are not at all afraid of the Russian team. And do not even consider the opponent a favorite.
Andrei Stepanov again agreed to talk without a voice recorder.
- Have you studied the Russian team well?
- Of course. We saw all the last matches.
- But will you play from defense?
“It would be wrong to go straight ahead.” Or play outdoor football. Still, the attack of the Russians is superior to ours.
- Do you agree to a draw?
- Now yes. But, perhaps, after the match we will regret the lost points.
- Did you meet with Semshov or Borodin here?
- No, they didn’t even call up. All meetings will be after the match.
Andrey Shevchenko