Our team failed to qualify for the Final Tournament, and after the emotions subsided, coach Goran Melher talks about what caused us to miss the chance to go to the Euros, our work, as well as our plans for the next period.
Selectors, the impression is that in those play-off matches there was no harmony on the field and no team spirit with which they played during the qualifiers. What was missing from our team and how do you now look at those duels with Belgium?
“We won’t fool ourselves, we certainly missed all that, all that graced us through the qualifiers, it simply disappeared in the matches with Belgium. What we lacked the most was the competitive rhythm, the matches, and I was particularly afraid of that, and that’s exactly what happened to us in the end. It was difficult to play such duels, which are both physically and mentally demanding, especially bearing in mind that many of our players had just been started with physical preparations. Some haven’t played a game since the fourth or fifth month, and on the other side we had a quality and motivated opponent with a lot of experience. The players were not even mentally at the level that is necessary in such important matches. After the first game, we did an analysis and found the cause, but it was difficult to correct the mistakes and come back after the 5 difference from the first meeting”.
You have been at the head of the national team for a little over 19 months, what is your predominant feeling when it comes to futsal selection and your work during this period?
“I have to be satisfied with many things, although by nature I am always dissatisfied and I always think that we can do more and better. We completely fulfilled the goal that was given to me and that we set when I took over the national team. Let me remind you, there were several things, first of all, to consolidate the national team that had 8 defeats in 8 official games and was without a coach for more than a year. Then, we had to gradually introduce young players and to try to reach at least the barrage through the qualifications. We managed to do that, although the fact remains that we didn’t make that one step forward, but we learned our lesson and will continue to work. I must emphasize that I am extremely happy that we have brought back the audience, during all the qualification matches but also in the play-off, we had great support, and this is an important indicator that we are on the right track.”
It is often said that we have talented players, but greater deviations in quality are evident if we compare with the leading futsal selections in Europe. What can be done in the development of futsal so that national teams, not only A, but also the others, are much more competitive in performances on the international stage?
“I’ve been saying since the first day that the national team depends a lot on our clubs and, in my opinion, we have a lot of problems there. Of course we have talented players, but what we lack is professionalism and maximum commitment to futsal. That’s where we lag behind the European selections. We need to improve the work in the clubs, especially the professional staff, as well as that through systematic and continuous investment we aim for a professional level. That way it would also be easier clubs and they would have more opportunities to invest in the development of young players. It hurts me when I see that some talented player fails because he does not have adequate training or is coached by someone who has not even undergone coaching training.”
Do you have any plans for a gathering in the coming period or possibly matches in FIFA terms?
“Of course, after the end of the barrage, in a conversation with the President and the people in charge of futsal, we agreed on a plan and program of preparation for the World Cup qualifiers that begin in October next year. Within that plan, we also have the possibility to arrange matches in the following FIFA dates, so I can say that we will certainly play two friendly matches with the European champion national team in the January cycle (January 15 and 16, 2026) Portugal. They invited us to be their general before the EP. And that is a kind of confirmation for us that we worked well in the past period and that we can only progress through such matches”.
(Vijesti.ba)
