2024-07-09 10:20:42
– What do you think about the match between the Netherlands and Turkey that you watched live here?
– We must congratulate the Turkish team. They fought like men and showed that they are not inferior to the Netherlands. On the contrary, if it wasn’t for the “tulips” goalkeeper, the match could have ended in another way. The class simply spoke for itself, as did the changes that came in for the Netherlands. Verghorst for me was at the heart of the turnaround. The Netherlands have equal players for two teams, the Turks did not have those substitutions to help the team.
– There are already four teams left. Are they the most deserving?
– The most deserving is Spain. Of the others, France has not convinced us that it deserves. For me, it is a crime against football that England is also in the semi-finals. Such a weak team! They did not deserve to get out of the groups with this game. Now, like nothing, they will beat the Netherlands and go to the final. There were much better teams. Even Switzerland, Slovakia, who in the round of 16 deserved to continue more than England. This is football, and luck plays a role. But I don’t know how long it will help them.
– It’s as if the big powers didn’t do their “reckoning” in the groups and most of them fell into the same stream?
– They failed in “math”, as they say. They didn’t calculate well who to where and how. They made way for England, who reached the semi-finals in the easiest way. For me, Friday was the final before the final – Spain – Germany. After “La Furia” won, it is the main favorite to win the European Championship. The only thing that can play a bad joke on them is that they don’t have a long bench like France.
– France continues without a goal from play – own goals, penalties.
– Before the start, everyone considered them one of the favorites, but France has shown nothing that it deserves to win the European Cup. Yes, they are strong as footballers, as qualities, as units, but as a team they did not convince us. There are two games to go – maybe one for them – we’ll see what they do.
– Can we say that the tough season with many matches exhausted the stars and they came tired to the European?
– It’s normal. Indeed, in the major championships – especially England – they play a lot of matches. These are living organisms. It’s normal for them to be exhausted, no matter how professional they are. Smaller teams are fresher, more prepared, more ready for every single game. They beat them with class, but we don’t know how far it will take them alone.
– What impressed you the most at Euro 2024 so far?
– That if you underestimate a team, anyone can play a bad joke on you. There are no strong and weak anymore. For me, even the “underdogs” were better than the favorites. Strengths and qualities in football are equal. The slightest mistake or luck can turn the game around.
– Did anything surprise you?
– Something did not surprise me. I expected a better game from the favorites. To show that they deserve to be called favorites. I’m surprised they’re so unprepared for what’s in store for all of them.
– How do you feel in the new role here – as a reporter?
– Great! But there is a lot of travel. Every day you are in a different city. A new match is coming. It is interesting, of course, but I do not envy you with these trips. We, football players, are used to it – we go to the match and we don’t care where the fans will come from. We go out for 90 minutes and that’s our job. Looking from the other side, it’s not so easy.
– Can you continue in this role in the future?
– I’m interested. We’ll see what happens in the future. May we be alive and well.