Yuri Maleev: «Today we lacked composure»

The head coach of the Belarusian women's national team answered journalists' questions after the Women's European Championship 2021 qualification match against Wales.

- Today we lacked composure. If we were to score the first goal - everything would have turned out completely differently and it would have been psychologically easier for us to play, we could have reorganized and played differently. If you do not score eventually you concede.

- Did the Wales team surprise you in any way?

- No, they absolutely did not. We were preparing for this. The only thing is that the team captain did not play today. It was a surprise. The tactical system was sustained, 3-4-3. We were ready for this, but one thing is to prepare, and everything else is decided on the pitch - a chance, a half of a chance, a fortunate occasion.

- The team is almost the same as that played against Norway. There was no fear that at the end of the match girls might get tired physically?

- Everything comes to the goal. A goal scored would give strength, emotions and a desire to leave all the strength on the football pitch. We had good chances to score. We failed to convert. They scored and it had an affect on us and it was hard to get out of this situation. And I was afraid, because that game with Norway took a lot of physical strength, but we reacted quite well in terms of recovery. And I won’t say that the team looked too tired.

- What is the reason for the substitution in the 1st half?

- Well, this is a clear example of the fact that she did not recover. Knowing Karina how she can play ... today she lacked initiative and failed to show her best game. She gave away a lot of balls and there was no sense to wait till the break and torment myself, her, and the whole team?

- What is it with Tanya Krasnova?

- Suspected rib fracture. She was taken by the ambulance.

- Summarize your work with the team: impressions, what went well, what didn’t?

- It is much easier to work with a club: every day, you see, you feel. You can play certain combinations. Here the team gathers, 3-4 days and I must quickly respond, what’s wrong - someone is tired, someone is injured. My head was spinning, somewhere I didn’t know what to grab onto. To summarize, during the year the team suffered 2 defeats: against Norway which was very painful and today, which, in my opinion, we absolutely did not deserve. I think that the team spent a good year. Yes, friendly games are friendly, and official games are official. Here, the intensity of the struggle and passions cannot be replaced by anything. In a friendly game you can make a mistake and this is “okay”. And here there are points and the result which every team wants to achieve. If we take the 5-point system, then I would give the national team a solid 3 for the year. This is purely my subjective opinion.