The Kazakhstan team continues to pleasantly surprise. We have already passed more than half of the qualification for Euro 2024 and the team still has an excellent chance of qualifying directly for the finals. Just one point for first place! A Russian fan should be especially happy that the sensational team is led by a compatriot. The day after the Kazakh team’s victory over Northern Ireland, we called Magomed Adiev and talked about the latest events in qualifying and the RPL, which are no strangers to him.
— Kazakhstan scored 12 points in the qualifying round for the first time in history. Do you feel like you have written your name in local football history? — I was always afraid and I still am afraid of such statements: the first one went down in history, etc. These are not the things I strive for in life and want to happen to me. Yes, it’s nice, I won’t hide it. But for me this is no reason to be proud. There are much more important things and principles in life that I want and try to follow.
– Which? — I try to live life correctly. Help people, don’t cheat them, don’t let them down, look them straight in the eyes and remain your own man. For me, these things are more important than some historical achievements.
—How did the last game turn out? – It’s very difficult, even difficult. When you compete in the European Championship team, you can’t expect easy matches. At first we understood that it would be difficult. It is doubly pleasant that in this difficult match we won and got such important points for us.
— First place is now separated from fourth by just one point. Did you expect such a fierce fight in the group? “I can’t say if I expected it or not.” I have one focus, both in the clubs and in the national team: there is the next game in which we have to fight for the three points. Then you follow the same path until the next game. What turns out as a result and how much he won, the fact is already seen. We are happy that four rounds before the end of the selection we are still among the contenders. But we understand that it will be very difficult to qualify for the final.
Kazakhstan footballers celebrate a goal
Photo: kff.kz
— Is this a unique moment for Kazakhstan? — Unfortunately for all football fans in Kazakhstan, the national team has never qualified for major tournaments before. Everyone will probably say that this is a great historical moment. My players and I don’t worry about this. I believed and still believe that the results should be summarized only when the path ends. Now this is only an intermediate result. We want more.
The situation in the group is very confusing.
— As the only Russian coach in the Euro Cup team, do you feel the support of your compatriots? – Of course I’m sorry. Yesterday I was congratulated by Kurban Bekievich Berdyev, Stanislav Salamovich Cherchesov and Galaktionov. Many coaches from Russia congratulate us and share this success with us. I am very pleased. Sports directors and other soccer professionals called to congratulate them. I feel like you are seeing and enjoying our successes, for which I am very grateful. I also wish good luck to all my colleagues.
— Do you receive job offers from Russia? —There were proposals and conversations. Now is a difficult period. No matter what offer I receive now, no matter how big it is, even my dream job, I will not up and leave the Kazakhstan national team. I have obligations to the country and the people. It is the first time we have an opportunity like this: we have to fight for it and go to the end. And only when we win the selection will it be possible to talk about some proposals. I told everyone, “Guys, thank you for your interest and invitation. I’m very happy with this, but I’m not ready to even consider it right now.” I need to finish this selection and then we can talk about something.
—But do you follow the RPL? – I can’t say that up close. When I have time, I watch games. I am always interested in what is happening in Russia. I won’t say that nothing directly surprises me. I am glad that Krasnodar finally takes first place. I understand how much Galitsky put his soul and his money into this. For a person this is a way out.
—Will they take the gold from Zenit? – Hardly (laughs). Zenit is a very competitive team. But this year the class difference will not be so noticeable. I think they will force some kind of fight against Zenit, but it will still be the first.
— RPL players are actively naturalizing in Armenia. Does the Kazakhstan Football Federation not want to follow this path? – No. Here the position of the president of the Kazakhstan Football Federation is clear: no artificial naturalizations. We will trust our players. If a person accepts citizenship for themselves, we will consider them. I think this is correct. The team must be made up of patriots of their country. And if we distribute passports artificially, what kind of patriotism can we talk about?
— Is Alip progressing in Russia? — Even when Nurik didn’t receive game practice, I said he was making a lot of progress. In the training process, Alip faces footballers such as Wendel, Claudinho and, previously, Malcolm. He became mentally stronger, stronger and improved in many aspects. With the arrival of game training at Zenit, it became clear that he was in good shape. He played quite well in the national team matches.
Nuraly Alip
Photo: kff.kz
—How does Zainutdinov feel in Türkiye? —I spoke with Bakha. She’s getting used to it, but she hasn’t fully adapted yet. Türkiye is a slightly different culture. Of course it’s difficult for him. We need more time. You should benefit from this transition. In Russia he showed that he is an extraordinary footballer. Zainutdinov wanted a new challenge and he got it in a big Turkish club. He will play in European competitions and on the national team; All this together should give you even greater growth.
“Our people” in the qualifying tournament:
22 RPL legionnaires have been called up for the qualifying matches for Euro 2024. Who will have super matches?
—Who else from the Kazakhstan team can follow your example? —Interesting young people are growing up. It is clear that they need a little time. I know that the clubs are showing some interest in our players. In Türkiye there was a substantial conversation about Bystrov. There are young boys who perform well in the national team and this will give them the impetus to go to Europe.
— Is it possible for Russian youth to progress without European Cups and official national team matches? – This must be done now. I totally agree that a large number of young people are called up to the national team. The team must be prepared not for today, but for tomorrow. Someday all this will end. And when this happens, we must have a competitive team with young players who can compete with big clubs and national teams.
— But the last matches of the Russian team caused more negative emotions than positive ones. — With a major transformation of the composition, there will be no stable results. There are different combinations all the time and there is no stability. If we needed a result now, we would see a certain backbone that the coaching staff depends on. So the results would have been slightly different.
Kazakhstan’s main parties, of course, are ahead. In the next round, Adiev’s team will play away against Denmark (October 14) and Finland (October 17). And in November, home game against San Marino (17th) and Slovenia away (20th). As for competitors, Slovenia still has to play Finland, Northern Ireland and Denmark. The Finns and Danes, in addition to their matches against Kazakhstan and Slovenia, will have matches against San Marino and Northern Ireland.
