When there is only one day left from the debut of the Albanian National Team in Euro 2024, the President of the AFA, Armand Duka, has shared his feelings and emotions on the eve of the challenge against Italy that will be played at the Dortmund stadium.
In an interview for Klan News with the journalist Besard Jacaj, the head of the Albanian football government spoke about the state of the team, the expectations in the European Championship “Germany 2024” and about the extraordinary interest of the fans in following the National Team.
Emotions on the eve of EURO 2024? – Actually, until yesterday i didn’t have many emotions, but now the anxiety has started increasing. I’m really interested in the European Championship, but it’s not that I have emotions for the European Championship and the opening matches, but my emotions are for the start of our national team, for the first match against Italy. There are more responsibilities than in 2016. 2016 was very beautiful from all perspectives. With support from the fans, but it seems to me that already in 2024, the interest of all Albanians is greater, and this makes me feel more the responsibility, the excitement of this competition. It makes you more emotional. In my opinion this is the difference.
The state of the team? – Fortunately, the condition is very good. We don’t have any footballers with doubts to be in the first match against Italy. The mood is very good. The group is united. The atmosphere seems positive. The reception in Dortmund has been fantastic. It is true that we came first to Germany, but I wish we’ll have a good start so that the European will go as well as possible and I wish we could stay as long as possible. Why not the last one. There are many demands for the three matches of the National Team and expectations. The slogan “we are one” is precisely the strength of this team. With this slogan we can move forward.
The list of players selected by coach Sylvinho? – Undoubtedly, there is rightly sadness from those who are not included in the list. But what I want to think and focus on is the footballers we have in Germany, available for the match against Italy. I don’t want to let aside what you said, but it’s a subjective choice. These are the pros and cons of football. Fortunately or unfortunately you have to get 26. If it wasn’t one it would be the other. We would have the same discussion. All of them have almost equal qualities, but there are 26 that should be chosen. We thank them for their contribution and i hope that they will continue to contribute to the National Team. The national team is the most important and if the players who are in Germany will make a positive result, it will undoubtedly make everyone happy, even those who are not on the list.
Edi Reja’s comment about coach Silvinjo? – I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to the National team, not only the coach, but all the staff, all the footballers, and for this the Football Association has invited everyone, even Edi Reja and Gianni De Biasi, to be part of the opening match , all the coaches who have coached Albania, all the footballers who have played for the National team. Everyone put a “brick” on the national team, despite the fact that everyone has had bad days and flaws, but there has been positive development and thanks to this positive development we are here.
The match with Italy? – I really have a lot of anxiety, i really have a lot of emotions. I rarely cannot sleep, last night i didn’t sleep. I have said in several interviews in Italy that I wish we’ll win the match against Italy. And I wish that we both pass the group together, and why not Italy to win the European Championship, but I am against Italy for only 90 minutes. I don’t see any differences, all three are very good teams. The three are the best teams in Europe come to this competition to win the European. We may be happy to pass the group or stay as long as possible. Their objective, of all three teams, is to win the European Championship, and it is not surprising that one of the three will win the European Championship, so I cannot tell them apart. But what I’d like to repeat that in the next match we have Italy, not to single it out from a qualitative or sporting point of view, but it is the next match and since it is the next match I have to think only of Italy and the Italian footballers.
The objective in the European Championship? – Silvinho, me and all of us are focused on Italy. I invite everyone to really focus with all our positive energies to do well against Italy, then better days will come if we win against them. I do not believe that there is an Albanian who will not watch the team in the European Championship, I do not believe that there is an Albanian who is not proud the results of the National Team or from the participation in the European Championship and for this I want to thank everyone because after all, this is also a component that helps us succeed. Let’s all be united and bring positive energy around this team. The main aspects are work, commitment, personal balances that are very important in a competition or such a match, but also luck is important.. But luck also helps the best, so you have to work and luck comes to you. The match against Italy is very difficult, European champion with a lot of history, but we will do ours. We didn’t just come to play, we came to win and we will try to win and stay as long as possible in Germany.
