The Macedonian national team has seven points in four starting matches, and three of them the team spent away and two against the favorite of the group, the British. Otherwise, you cannot call a successful start. Did you expect this?
Everything could have turned out even better. In this game, I think we should have beat England in Manchester. Although in general I am, of course, satisfied with the game and the results. The guys work as they should, observe order and discipline, and, most importantly, give all their best. Before accepting the Macedonian national team, I was sure that this team has potential. And my assumptions were eventually confirmed.
You recently said that you are looking forward to Macedonia entering the final part of Euro 2008. Not too ambitious?
I believe in what I do. And in the statement you mentioned, I only expressed the hope that the Football Federation of Macedonia would extend the contract with me for 2008, and named a possible reason for this. Of course I was joking. Reality does not allow loud statements to be made at such an early stage. Our group, in my opinion, is the strongest and most difficult of all the Euro 2008 qualifying groups. We will give all our best in every match, but the time has not yet come to make any calculations.
On October 7, at Old Trafford, English fans whistled during the performance of the anthem of Macedonia, and at the end of the match the hosts often made tricks far from fair play on the field. I’m setting up your team, the Balkan team, did this, of course, help?
Not sure. The mood was already extreme - thanks to the full stands and a powerful rival in the person of the British. And everything else is the problem of the British and their football federation.
What do you think about the Russian team with which you play the next match? How powerful do you think this opponent is?
Russia is a team with tremendous potential, and now it has a cool coach in the person of Hiddink.
Sounds like an on-duty pre-match compliment. So far, Russia has won only in one of three starting matches ...
Russia is a great football power, the fact of the performance of two clubs in the Champions League at once confirms this. I think that Russia was not mistaken in inviting Hiddink - he knows his job well, and you just need to be patient.
Could it be more specific? Which of the Russian players do you think is the most dangerous?
I know a few great players, especially Sychev, but I would not want to focus on individual surnames. Moreover, I have not embarked on a detailed study of the matches of the Russian team. In addition, I always think more about the game and tactics of my own team than about my opponent. And in this regard, the upcoming match in Skopje will not be an exception.
This match will be missed by a tandem of forwards Pandev - Naumoski due to overkill. How will you redraw the composition? And maybe a tactic?
We will miss Pandeva from Naumoski, yet in Macedonia there is no such choice of football players as in Russia. Naturally, this will entail certain personnel shifts. But our tactics will not change: Macedonia will advance and try to score first. I know that the Russians have excellent technique, are very good at holding the ball. Therefore, we need to be patient and use our moments.
You already beat the Russian team five years ago, in the qualifying tournament of the 2002 World Cup, leading the Slovenian team. True, in Russia it is still customary to consider that then you were not beaten by Romantsev’s team, but by judge Graham Poll, who appointed a controversial penalty in the end.
I agree - that penalty was controversial. Personally, I am not a supporter of such judicial decisions. True, the referee before this twice warned the Russian player, who clung to one of ours with his hands, and this is clearly seen in the replay.