Pavlidis on bwinSPORT FM 94.6: “We know how good we are – It’s right to go to the Euros with Poget”

With faith in the abilities of the National team and optimism for the qualification to Euro 2024 appeared Vangelis Pavlidis speaking to News Bulletin 247 and the Sotiris Tabako. The Alkmaar forward, who is the third top scorer in Europe, made it clear that he should not be underestimated Kazakhstan in… the first “final” for the qualification on Thursday. At the same time, he added that in case the Greek team wins the ticket for the final phase, the right and fair thing would be for Gustavo Poget to lead them there.

The interview of Vangelis Pavlidis with Sotiris Tabakos in detail:

-How are you preparing for Thursday’s match?

“I’m fine, all the guys have been waiting a long time for this game. It is something important for matches, for the national team, for the world and all of Greece. We should be serious and treat the match against Kazakhstan as a final. Some people may think that it is something easy, but it won’t be and we have to show our good face to pass”.

-Is there anything that worries you about the match against Kazakhstan?

“No, I’m not worried about anything. We have confidence in ourselves, we know what we have to do and we just have to be serious and focused. These games have traps, you have to be on a good day and get the win. If not, you can go home.”

-Are you worried that the national team had to assemble for about four months?

“Certainly with three training sessions you can’t be 100% ready, but there has been a very good atmosphere in recent years and we are working hard to show up ready. After all, these groups had the same problem as us, i.e. they had a long time to gather. The point is to present ourselves ready, not to underestimate the opponent and I think that if we are serious we will present a very good image and qualify”.

– Is it a weapon of the National team that in recent years it knows how to win these games, as well as the good atmosphere?

“The positive thing is that all the children are in good shape and playing in their teams. We know how good we are, we’ve shown we can be competitive in the big games, but also in the smaller ones we have the players to control the pace. Every opponent is different, but we focus on ourselves.”

-Does the fact that the national team has to be in a major event for ten years stress you out?

“Of course there is pressure, but we all put pressure on ourselves. Playoffs used to be doubles, now they are doubles. We have to be 100% focused in every minute and that will be the secret to get the victory, because we have the quality. We have two very important games ahead of us, but we are only thinking about the first so that… there will be a second. We really, really want to go to the Euros”.

-Are you optimistic? Do you think that the crowd that will fill the stadium will also help a lot?

“Yes, I am optimistic, because I believe in us, in our abilities and in the world that will come to give us the impetus to get the victory. When I came to the national team for the first time we played in an empty OAKA and now we will play in a full stadium. The whole world must support the National team, as the fans did in Volos, who with their help reached these qualifiers. May we win and give joy to all Greeks”.

– With Alkmaar you score non-stop. Have you kept a goal for Kazakhstan as well?

“I’m having my best year this year. The truth is that I would like to score more with the national team, I have time to score goals. I hope I can do it on Thursday, but let’s win even if he doesn’t score. The most important thing is to go to the Euros, not to score goals here. Now it doesn’t matter who will score the goal, but how the job will be done and we will go to the Euro”.

– Will we finally go to the Euro with Gustavo Poget? I ask why his contract is expiring… How do you see this?

“I don’t know that, it’s not my job to comment on it. We footballers have no place in this. I hope we get the qualification and go with him. That’s logical, but we can’t comment on anything. We football players must be focused on the competitive part only. However, the right and fair thing would be to go with Mr. Poget to the Euro”.