We have witnessed another unsuccessful game by the Azerbaijani national team. The further fate of our team in League C of the League of Nations, which failed to break the resistance of Estonia in Gabala, was in question.
Playing toothlessly for 90 minutes, our team could not find a way to the opponent’s goal.The Estonians, who played reliably in defense, returned from Azerbaijan with a good result. Fernando Santos’ team once again deserves criticism. The team,which failed the first 4 games in the league,was not memorable this time either.
The choice of a Portuguese specialist as part of the team cannot be accepted unequivocally. The Portuguese,who in previous games trusted Mehdi Dzhannetov to score,managed without him this time. after returning to Neftchi, ramil Sheydayev, looking for his old game, was one of the weakest of the season, but remained in the starting lineup. It is impractical to find any explanation for the fact that a footballer who was “not on time” remained on the field for 90 minutes. Ramil, who lost all the battles on the left flank and “distinguished himself” with inaccurate passes, found himself in the wrong place. True, it was clear that Santos pinned his hopes on Sheydaev in the absence of the injured Renat Dadashov and Mahir emreli, who received a red card, but…
Musa Gurbanli, who spent only 75 minutes on the field last month, was not far behind Ramil. The fact that Gurban Gurbanov, who made rotations after games in European cups, gave his son a chance to play in the last round of the Azerbaijani championship, seemed to remind him of Musa Santos. It was naive to hope that Gurbanli, who “extinguished” in the match with “Zire” and did not play any role in the victory with a score of 4:0, would become the savior of the team in the match with Estonia. You can also add Toral Bayramov, Ozan Can Kokcu, Alexey Isaev, abbas Huseynov to this list…
if you pay attention to the players in the starting lineup as a whole, only goalkeeper Rza Jafarov (Neftchi) and defender Rahil Mamedov (Radomyak) stand out for their stable performance in clubs. Even Joshgun Diniev, one of the best against Estonia, only plays 60-70 minutes in the Turkish 1st League. Toral Bayramov, Elvin Jafarguliyev and Abbas Huseynov are always victims of rotations of the Qarabag coaching staff, and it is impossible to see them performing consistently on the field. One of the team’s main weaknesses is that players do not play for their clubs or rarely get a chance.Although Estonia was a suitable opponent for us and we could gain a noticeable advantage in the game, since the opponent only needed 1 point, the problems associated with the successful completion of attacks were not solved by Santos.
It is well known that the Estonian national team has been preferring athletic football for many years. So why, against such an opponent, did our players try to find their way to the opponent’s goal with more aerial passes? It seems that either the coaching staff did not analyze the opponent, or the players are not able to complete the assigned tasks. another issue relates to physical fitness.It’s not easy to control the ball for 90 minutes and keep your opponents under pressure. As an inevitable result, the team’s last hope rested on air balls, which were the most desirable option for the opponent.
Yesterday our U-19 team lost to Ireland with a score of 0:4 (and previously 0:2 to Iceland in the first game), and U-17 lost to Greece 0:3 (0:4 to Hungary in the first game). What hope for the future can the failure of our three teams to score 1 goal give? The youth team will have their last games in the group, and the country’s main team will perform in Sweden. Considering all this, it is clear as day that Azerbaijani football will end the year on a pessimistic note.
AFFA is still waiting for a strategy from Double Pass and McKinsey & Company that will determine the future of Azerbaijani football. Although months have passed, the unfinished project raises a big question: when will it be approved and launched, and how many years will it take for it to have an effect? But doubts have grown that the new head of the association, Rovshan Najaf, and his team, who started work on April 2, will be able to find a solution to the country’s football problems. Azerbaijani football is taking a step back every day.
İdman.biz
What are the main factors contributing to the Azerbaijani national football team’s recent poor performance?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Football Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to our special segment where we discuss the latest happenings in the world of sports. Today, we have an expert in football analysis, Dr. Aydin Mammadov, joining us to talk about the recent performance of the Azerbaijani national team in the League of Nations. Thank you for being here, Dr. Mammadov.
Dr. Aydin Mammadov: Thank you for having me. It’s an vital topic, especially considering how much passion the fans have for the game.
Editor: Absolutely. The recent match against Estonia raised quite a few eyebrows, especially with the team failing to score throughout the entire 90 minutes. What do you think went wrong in that match?
Dr. Mammadov: There were multiple factors at play in that match. Primarily, the lack of offensive creativity was glaring. The team seemed toothless, unable to break down a well-organized Estonian defense. They seemed to lack the urgency and tactical awareness to find gaps in their opponent’s line, which is critical in international play.
Editor: that brings us to the coaching choices. Fernando Santos has had his share of mixed results. What are your thoughts on his strategies and player selections?
Dr. Mammadov: Santos has a solid reputation,but some of his decisions have raised questions. For instance, not playing Mehdi Dzhannetov—who has been a reliable scorer in previous matches—was puzzling. His ability to find the back of the net could have significantly altered the course of the game. Moreover, Ramil Sheydayev’s performance was underwhelming; he struggled to contribute effectively but remained in the starting lineup. It points to possible tactical inflexibility or a lack of choice options.
Editor: And what about the broader implications of this loss? This was the team’s fourth consecutive defeat in League C of the Nations League. How does this impact their future?
Dr. Mammadov: It’s quite concerning. This series of losses not only dampens team morale but also affects their FIFA ranking.In competitive international football, consistency is key, and repeated failures could lead to meaningful doubts about the strength of the squad and the coaching staff. If things continue on this path, we could see a shift in both personnel and strategy as they seek to rebound.
Editor: Given the current state of the team and their League C position, what would you recommend they focus on moving forward to improve their performance?
Dr. Mammadov: First and foremost,they need to reassess their tactics and personnel.Engaging more in training focused on offensive play could help. Additionally, the coaching staff should consider integrating younger talent to bring fresh energy and creativity to the squad. fostering a mentality of resilience is crucial.they need to believe in their ability to compete at this level, which starts with confidence-building performances in upcoming matches.
Editor: It seems there is much work ahead for the Azerbaijani national team. any final thoughts on what the fans can expect in the coming games?
Dr.Mammadov: Fans should remain optimistic but realistic. Progress may be gradual. They might not see immediate results, but if the management and coaching staff take decisive actions based on these observations, there is hope for a turnaround.Support from the fans could also play a crucial role in boosting the team’s confidence.
editor: Thank you, Dr. Mammadov, for sharing your insights with us today. It’s always enlightening to get the expert viewpoint on the trials and tribulations of our national team. We hope to see improvements soon!
Dr. mammadov: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing this crucial aspect of Azerbaijani football.