MARCO ROSSI: OUR APPROACH MUST BE FLAWLESS

“It could have been a better draw for us, but it could have been worse. We’ve been drawn against tough opponents, among which World Cup finalists Croatia are the outstanding side”, began Marco Rossi at Monday’s post Euro Qualifier draw press conference. “I’d expect three teams – us, Slovakia and Wales – to do battle for second place, all of which represent a similar level. Slovakia are perhaps the favourites on paper to qualify out of the three, but luckily, matches are played on grass. Much will depend on form at the time. It is our desire to qualify for EURO 2020. No one knows when we’ll have the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd in Budapest at a European Championship again. We’d like to play at home, in front of our own fans at the European Championship. It won’t be easy, but I’m not afraid of the challenge; nothing has been easy in my career”, he added.

Rossi, who spent a year as head coach of DAC 1904 Dunaksjá Streda in Slovakia, continued by saying: “There aren’t many in the Slovak squad who play in their national championship. Almost all of them take to the field each week in one of the continent’s top leagues. Wales have got Gareth Bale, who is head and shoulders above the others albeit he has suffered from injuries. Croatia represent a totally different level in the group. They have world-class players throughout the team who are key players for their club sides in the UEFA Champions League. We’ll have to be at our very best to have a chance of qualifying. Azerbaijan are also capable of causing an upset, not just against us but against anyone on home soil in Baku. Azeri football has come on leaps and bounds recently; we simply can’t afford to underestimate anyone. We must avoid the lapses in concentration which beset our Nations League match in Tallinn; our approach must be flawless”.