Gagatsis: “In the country of exaggeration, we support Jovanovic” – What he said about Poget, Tzolaki and Arbitration

At the Foxbet Channel Center Fox broadcast on YouTube, the EPO president was hosted, Makis Gagatsis. On the occasion of its exclusion National Team from the final phase of the World Cup, Mr. Gagatsis referred to a series of issues related to the course of the team, the position of the Federation, the collaboration with the Ivan Jovanovic and the prospects for Euro 2028.

During the interview, he commented on the national image of the national team, the spiritual preparation, the mistakes that were made, and the importance of the following matches for the team. At the same time, he referred to the Plan “Renaissance” For national teams, the financial impact of exclusion, as well as on public criticism of the coach.

The President of the EPO was also placed for Gustavo Poyetaccounting for his term in the National, while also commenting on the dietary decisions who influenced the team’s course in the qualifiers, stressing that they are not used as an alibi, but must be recorded.

The interview also included references to the operation of the KED, the presence of Wreaththe image of this year’s arbitration and the need to avoid a toxic climate around Greek football.

In detail what he said:

For the course of the National:

Of course it was a failure -I said in my statements after the match. Third place is a failure, let alone when the goal was to win the first place in the group. Do not hide behind our finger. It is a failure and we are called upon to manage it as well as a federation.

What went wrong?

It is easy to say what went wrong, and criticism is legitimate. The analysis, however, is the coach’s job. It will take place in the coming days, he will see what didn’t work properly, as the team has conceded three goals in the last games. When we had five wins in six games in the previous competition, conceding goals only from England, something changed.

We will be at a disadvantage, as some groups involved in the World will get extra points. The goal is to keep in the second capacity group -something very important for the sequel.

Is there a football explanation for so many mistakes? Is it inexperience?

I cannot say that it is an example of inexperience, since the most youthful national in Scotland has won 0-3 comfortably without threatening.

I was not inexperienced, then, it wasn’t. Football is a game of mistakes -just more than we thought.

To say something: all children have our full support. Many have said about Tzolakis. His mistake did not cost the defeat, in the 94th minute, 2-1. Even if he cost, the words of Tasos who came out and supported him in the end show the climate. Tzolakis himself was decisive at 0-3 and he was one of the top matches. The defeat did not come from him. We’re talking about a top goalkeeper -like Vlachodimos and Mandas.

For social media and support to the coach

I won’t tell you about social, because I don’t. But I will tell you that I understand the atmosphere. There is always a criticism in favor of the coach -reaching the point of hearing things like “leaving”, “catching a ceiling” and more. To prevent any situation and erase a subject that never existed, we renewed the coach’s contract -without knowing if we would go to the World Cup. We wanted to continue until 2028. From the first discussion we had, we had talked about a four -year contract. The fact that we have not achieved the goal is a failure -but it does not mean that only the coach is to blame. Nor should we get it all about an effort and I believe that the next success will come. It is a new national team that has the whole future ahead of it.

Is there anything in your mind about the national team’s racing plan? For the first time, we see the National take the initiative of the match, having sovereignty, another football model.

Depending on the players you have, it has to play. In 2004 the National was resting on the midfield. Zikos arrived not to have a place in the team -and we are talking about a player who had played a Champions League final the same year we qualified for the Euro 2004. There were players like Basinas, Karagounis, Katsouranis, Zagorakis. Every coach must take advantage of his weapons. Rehagel was based on the midfield and achieved something that is very difficult to live again. Ivan, having a “golden generation”, does well and wants to play different football. With these players, to close back and play otherwise? This is just the difference. What material each team has. I withstand the criticism and came out to support the coach. In failure, however, some always seek “blood in the arena” -and usually this blood is the coach.

Did we diagnose intention to give up?

I made my statements before talking to the coach. Then I went to the locker room and talked to the journalists in the mixed zone and talked to the reporters, noting three things: failure, support to the players, follow up. Then I saw him go for statements at the press conference. Then I met him. He told me that his contract was not binding -it was a very old man what he said. “If you want to think about something different, don’t see it as a commitment,” he told me. I replied that I have made the decisions since summer, regardless of results. After ten minutes, we gave our hands: We continue together, in any case, since he also realized that he had our support. Failure or success is something overall. It is not just about the coach. Do not focus on “the coach failed”. And the administration may have made mistakes.

For national teams and “Renaissance” with George Samaras

I want to tell you about the national teams -the Renaissance program has passed with Yiannis Samaras and Dimitris Papadopoulos. The program is aimed at the Academies from 6 to 14 years. All academies in Greece play the same football, under the same conditions, across the country. We took it as a model from the Netherlands and Belgium. The Danes told us that a similar program had begun in 2006, and its fruits have appeared since 2018 onwards -since then that they have not been missed by any great event.

Did we finally raise the bar a lot?

We are a country of exaggeration. It is right to have expectations from the team. We won 0-3 in Scotland -what to say, we wouldn’t go to the World? Of course we will give it all, and then, if we do not succeed, we will say we failed. It is right to have demands, but in Greece there is a hard measure.

For dietary decisions and sense of disrespect

Again: It is not an excuse for the failure of the National. When we talk about six games tournaments, it is not a 32 championship. A mistake can judge a qualifying in the World. With Scotland, at 2-1, there is a clear penalty shoot -out to Ioannidis -very good, especially in the VAR era. Was not given at 90 ‘. The defeat covers everything, but I can’t help but mention it. I said, okay, the referee may not see it. We didn’t do it alibi. Let’s go below. On Sunday we saw the Scotland-White Match. At 1-0, Belarus’ goal is canceled for a foul in the center. If that was a foul, then Ioannidis was … two penalties! There must be a measure.

I also contacted Theodoros Theodoridis -where I have to address. I also talked to other UEFA officials. If Scotland was drawing and we made two wins, while the Danes were drawn to Scotland, we would go to the barrels for our chances.

Economic impact on the loss of qualification?

There is, of course, an economic impact. The qualification in the 2022 World Cup was about $ 9 million. This year’s figures FIFA has not yet published, but it would definitely be more. There are expenses, of course, but it is money that would go to the federation. We have done our planning, we also have the training center, but clearly we will miss this revenue.

For the criticism of Poyet

Poyet supported quite a bit. He came in 2021, came first in Group C and enabled the team to claim the qualification at the European Championship. No one expected to pass France or the Netherlands. But against Kazakhstan and Georgia, we had to qualify. I understand the criticism. Poyete was a joy for these four years. Again: Ivan Jovanovic I consider him the best coach in Greece and the most suitable for National.

For Stephan Lanua and arbitration

There are no special nuisances from groups. Some phone can rise, it’s normal. Iliopoulos did not contact me -I don’t know if he talked to Lanou. The KED is independent. Mr. Theodoridis also said it: We are not yet ready for a Greek archive. I think Lanua is doing a good job. In Kifissia – AEK, all phases entered VAR. Anyone can see differently with the “glasses” of their team, but when a phase does not enter the VAR, it means that the KED considers the referee’s original decision correct.

Are you happy with this year’s arbitration?

I am more pleased with last year, but not completely. There is a lot of room for improvement. As I said, why should a foreign referee come, make a mistake and say “accidental”, and when it makes it a Greek say “suspicious”? This does not honor anyone. The Greek referees will begin to whistle the Cup derby, with a foreign VAR. KED works all day on it. They are currently doing a three -day seminar to analyze phases. In the fourth match there were quite a few mistakes -I recognize it. I understand that every team, depending on its goals, considers it wrong and tries to create a climate. It is expected. The point is that the spirits are not exacerbated. We have no announcements about arbitration, nor do you need all this toxic climate. All we can do is to degrade our own product. Will you tell me “Do we have a good product?” And yet, we have an important product! We have stadiums full, teams playing nice football, four clubs in European competitions. Our football is not as ugly and as toxic as we want to present it. Mistakes were made, made and will be done. Here we are to accept them – and the failures and mistakes – to look in the mirror and move forward, correcting them as much as we can.