Temur Ketsbaia, head coach of Georgian national football team, is sure that all players who will play against Croatians will do their best. Ketsbaia is happy that the whole Georgia is looking forward to this match.

“It is good that the team is back to the base. I want to thank everyone, starting with “Kartu” Company and ending with Georgian Football Federation and all those people who worked for 24 hours. Everyone knows that this match is very important. We will all gather today and tomorrow. We have five days for preparation. Croatia has one of the best teams not only in our group but also in Europe. They have good players but also, we have good ones. It is important that all called up players play in the main staff of their clubs. All of them will do their best to make fans happy. I know that everyone will talk only about this match. I am happy that Georgia lives with this sport again” – stated Temur Ketsbaia at a press conference which was held at technical center “Basa” today.

Akaki Khubutia: “I want to repeat the words of Mr. Ketsbaia and to thank everyone for what has been done at the base. This match is very important and we will do everything to advance Georgia. We can do it”.

After this, Temur Ketsbaia answered questions of journalists:

- How can you substitute Malkhaz Asatiani? He was one of the key figures of the team last year.

- What can we do, it is football. We have to find substitutions of those players who will not be able to arrive. I talked to Malkhaz and I wanted him to arrive. But he will not arrive because of some problems. There are some other problems. I am sure that all those players who will play will do their best to win this match. The match will be difficult but we have already held difficult matches and I hope we can handle it again.

- Russian media spread information and Jano Ananidze has injury…

- I talked to Jano and he has ankle problem. Doctors told him that he should rest. He will arrive in Georgia and after that, everything will be found out.

- If Ananidze will not be able to play, which player are you going to call up? The team has 2 matches in a row (on March 29 against Israel) and it is not excluded that any player will not be able to play because of injury or disqualification…

- Nikoloz Gelashvili will be added to this staff.

- Why did not Mate Vatsadze manage to arrive?

- Mate wanted to arrive but he has already left Russian territory and in case of another leaving he might not be able to go back. In this case, his arrival is nonsense because he will be able to play neither in Georgia nor in Russia. The same happened about Barabadze – he arrived from Russia, then could not go back and was left without club. We do not need Mate for only two matches. They are young players and will have time to show themselves.

- Will you be satisfied if we take point in this match?

- I would lie if I said that I would not be satisfied. This match is important for us and for Croatians. It is good that the stadium will be crowded. Draw will not be a bad result.

- Croatians beat Czech players 4:2 in last friendly match. Have you watched this match and how are you informed about the opponent?

- We are informed about them and I know all Croatian players. They have good team but we have good team too. Besides that, we know that fans will do everything to support us. We will inform our players with information about Croatians. We will show them videos of their last 2-3 matches.

- What can you say about Levan Gvazava and Gia Grigalava?

- I cannot solve visa problems. We will give chance to everyone. But first of all, they should show themselves in their own clubs.

- Does it make you problem that players of Russian clubs have just resumed the season and they are not on good forms?

- I agree with you, there are some problems about this case. But one can do everything for one match. It depends of how you will train. Last year, there were two teams in Europe which did not lost even one match – Croatia and Georgia. I hope we will continue this series.

The match of Georgian and Croatian teams will be held at Boris Paichadze stadium on March 26. The match will start at 21:00. Tickets are sold since March 20.

Lasha Tabagari