Courtesy: UEFA.com


Tveryankin: Azerbaijan can do it again

Azerbaijan's 44-year-old goalkeeper Andrey Tveryankin was crucial in their run to the 2010 semi-finals and is sure that they can do just as well now they are not an unknown quantity.

Thursday 19 January 2012

by Erkin Ibragimov from Baku

Two years ago goalkeeper Andrey Tveryankin was a rock in Azerbaijan's superb run to the UEFA Futsal EURO 2010 semi-finals as tournament debutants. Now aged 44, Tveryankin is still at the heart of coach Alesio's squad and, as they plot their way past Portugal and Serbia in Group D in Croatia, Tveryankin tells UEFA.com that Azerbaijan will be just as dangerous now they are no longer an unknown quantity.


UEFA.com: How far can Azerbaijan go?
Andrey Tveryankin: Azerbaijan can repeat the result of 2010. We are strong enough to do it, but only the tournament will show. We will be at our usual level at the very least.


UEFA.com: Nobody knew much about Azerbaijan when you reached the semi-finals in 2010. Can you build on that experience?
Tveryankin: That championship helped us so much back then, but we know we will not be regarded as "just another team" any more. Saying that, the experience of just one EURO isn't much.


UEFA.com: What was the highlight of the tournament for you in 2010?
Tveryankin: The [quarter-final] victory against Ukraine who are really very strong opponents. You remember such wins and they give you more confidence.


UEFA.com: You will be one of the oldest players at EURO, if not the oldest. How long do you plan to continue playing?
Tveryankin: I'm going to play as long as my health allows. Much depends on the decision of the coaches and management. Some people are afraid of the date of birth in my passport. But they trust in me in Azerbaijan and this means a lot. It's true what they say – it's people who play and not passports.


UEFA.com: What inspires you most about the Azerbaijan national team?
Tveryankin: The team is writing national history right now and I'm proud to be part of it. I have reached the level I always dreamed about and got the opportunity to achieve my goals in sport.


UEFA.com: Does it help that the backbone of the team plays for Araz Naxçivan?
Tveryankin: It's a great advantage. You gain a lot from team chemistry. The human factor also helps a lot, as we have a very friendly squad at Araz and this transmits to the national side.


UEFA.com: What are the strengths of Serbia and Portugal?
Tveryankin: A never-say-die attitude for Serbia and high quality in both individual and team play for Portugal.


UEFA.com: What does it mean to you to take part in another EURO?
Tveryankin: It's a big moment in my career. One that will stay with me for the rest of my life.


UEFA.com: You lost against Spain in qualifying. What makes them so strong?
Tveryankin: They have a great team and it is nice to play against them. They like to play and let their opponents play too.


UEFA.com: Why do Spain dominate European national team futsal?
Tveryankin: They have great individuals – more than two teams' worth – a strong national league and good team play.


UEFA.com: What do you like most about futsal?
Tveryankin: The passion, the excitement and the highs and lows.




Courtesy: UEFA.com


Braz wary of Portugal opponents

Portugal knocked out Serbia and Azerbaijan on their way to the 2010 final and as they prepare to meet those nations again in Zagreb, coach Jorge Braz talks to UEFA.com.

Friday 20 January 2012

by Nuno Tavares

UEFA Futsal EURO 2010 runners-up Portugal kick off their 2012 finals campaign in Croatia next month with Jorge Braz at the helm, his first big tournament since replacing long-serving coach Orlando Duarte. Braz was Duarte's assistant in Hungary last time when Portugal beat Serbia in the quarter-finals then Azerbaijan on penalties to make the decider; those nations await again in Zagreb as Braz discusses their threat with UEFA.com.

UEFA.com: You know your opponents Serbia and Azerbaijan well ...
Jorge Braz: Just as you say, two teams we know, two teams we faced in the last edition. But they are two teams who reached the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, so they are teams with value, with quality, with slightly different characteristics.


UEFA.com: Is it accurate to say that Portugal start off as the big favourites to win the group?
Braz: We assume so. We want to be in the next phase. The question of whether we are favourites or not, that depends on preparation, the quality with which we get prepared for things, that's what I always say. So that's a theoretical question, remembering again the surprise of Serbia beating Russia in 2010, where no one expected it, and [in 2007] drawing with Spain, where no one expected it; these are teams who constantly surprise, so we don't want to let that happen, especially with Serbia.

Azerbaijan, we already know their threat; they're a team with a lot of quality, well organised, with players who have a lot of individual quality. We still have to prepare ourselves even better, and we have to concentrate on beating Azerbaijan this time without the need for penalties.


UEFA.com: How much confidence has reaching the 2010 final given the players?
Braz: I think they are now aware that you can only meet a challenge if you have total dedication. It doesn't reach 100%, but it has to be total dedication. At their clubs, in the work they do during the season, and then when they are here.


UEFA.com: Do you think the step that the Portuguese national team took in 2010 was important in the triumph of Benfica winning the UEFA Futsal Cup that year, and Sporting reaching the final in 2011?
Braz: I even used to say that the national team reflects the work done by the clubs. The great volume of work ends up being done at the clubs, and that merit goes essentially to Benfica and Sporting for the quality of their work, for the quality of their players, the quality of their futsal structures; the clubs deserve great merit. But then here we try to realise the potential.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com