“Georgian football has future. That is why everyone should support Georgian national team and help Georgian football. I could not imagine how these people could leave the stadium disappointed. We want not half of Georgia but 100 per cent of Georgia to support us. I want to thank the whole Georgia and those people who came to the stadium and those who sat in front of TV for 2 hours. It was tense and difficult match because we were playing against one of the world’s strongest teams. Though, the boys did their best and happened that we could only imagine in fairytale. When there is a desire you can do everything. Thank you boys for such devotion”, - Temur Ketsbaia, head coach of Georgian national football team, could not hide his emotions after beating Croatians (1:0).
Levan Kobiashvili: “It is difficult to say something after such match because there are a lot of emotions. I want to join the head coach and to congratulate this victory to all fans who came to the stadium or watched it on TV. Those people who made all conditions for us to prepare well. I am the happiest man not because I scored goal but because I am one of the members of this team. Every minute spend in this team makes me happy”.
- Only desire was reason of victory or is there anything else?
Temur Ketsbaia: We were playing against stronger team than us and we had to fight during the whole match. Holding many unbeaten matches is not our only goal. We expected to take something in this match. Perhaps, we did not deserve victory but it does not concern us anymore. The most important is that we won and took 3 points. The most important is to believe that we can also do it. We had all conditions for preparation. I want to thank Bidzina Ivanishvili that Georgian team has its own base. I want to thank “Soccar” for laying good grass on the base pitch. I want to thank president of football federation and everyone who works there.
- The team held two different halves. Was it a tactical plan?
Temur Ketsbaia: To tell the truth, I hoped that if we fought till the end we had a chance to win the match. We have such players who can play well in attack. People say that Martsvaladze could not play well in the team. Though, a lot of things changed when he started playing. Martsvaladze not only proved that he could play in the team but also he played a key role in the victory.
- After three days you have a match against Israel. What prognosis can you make about the next match?
Temur Ketsbaia: It is difficult to make prognosis about us (laughs). I do not think that match will be easier than this one. Israel plays at home better than away. The boys know it. So, we have to prepare well and to play devotedly.
- Goalkeeper played a key role in success of the team…
Temur Ketsbaia: Before the match, I wrote the list of 10 players and did not know who will play in goal. Not because Loria is a bad goalkeeper. He held good matches in the team. I even thought to toss a coin. But Revishvili held all official matches in Russian club and fortunately, everything ended up well. This victory is a merit of those boys who were not in the list. I think they are disappointed but it is not bad.
After the match, before everyone went toward the press conference hall, Croatian head coach Slaven Bilic congratulated Georgian head coach and players on victory. At the press conference, first he asked questions of Croatian journalists and then representatives of Georgian mass media.
- When you arrived in Tbilisi you stated that Croatian team was better than Georgian one. Has Georgian team proved which one is better?
- I want to congratulate you on victory. Football is a good play because the strongest does not always win. We came here to win but Georgian team played fanatically with support of 60 000 fans.
- What do you think is the reason of failure of your team and success of Georgian team?
- We found it difficult to play against defensive football. Our opponent protected itself well and expected its chance. When they had a chance to score goal, they did it.
- Was there anything unexpected in playing of Georgian team?
- There was no surprise. I only expected that there would be one or two new players. Their playing system was the same.
- Can Georgian team be considered as a discovery of current qualifying round of European Championship?
- It is a very tense group. Before the match I stated that in case of loss, Georgia would still have a chance to go through the next round. But Georgians won, though, we are still in a better situation.
Lasha Tabagari
