Ivan Jovanovic: “National Greece’s goal is qualifying for the World Cup”

He said he was satisfied after her 2-0 victory at the Finnish headquarters, with 62-year-old coach stating that the goal of “blue-white” is qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Ivan Jovanovic saw what he wanted from the footballers of the National Greece, with the Serbian technician even pointing out that his big goal is none other than the qualification of “blue-white” in the coming World Cup. Jovanovic’s words Greece’s first away win over Finland and what changed in the second half: “We discussed this issue, that we had not won here. It was important for us to win for many reasons: to react, to have the right transition after the game with England, to try to the end for the first place, our presence in the second capacity group, to complete this effort in the best way in this game cycle and it was not easy through a disappointment like that with England. We had to check the pace, Finland is a good team in the ball release, its score position does not reflect the games it has made. We did it during the first half, the problem was to find solutions within a closed defense with many football players. We didn’t have the determination to finish the phases, we were… soft. We weren’t in danger of fighting, we were good at our positions, the passes we were looking for in the intervals weren’t always good and we didn’t have good collaborations between the players near the quarterback. We discussed it at halftime, we had to be more determined. In general, our reaction was good because Finland is a good team, except for the last fifteen minutes we have had no problems. It leaves me satisfied with our reaction, the way of thinking about game control and that we can be much better when we had to find places to complete the attacks.” Makis Gagatsi’s statement that Greece deserved to be first and if he “sees it” in the World Cup: “The second place however we do it was given if England won. It saddens us that if we played a better game at our headquarters with England, maybe we could be more competitive. We lost and had this tie, one victory each team over the other. The first place was played in the game at our headquarters, the only game at six that our performance was not at the level we had to. We could have had better performance. Our goal is to go to the World Cup, it makes sense, and I’m optimistic. The children show in the field that they think very seriously. The games in the group were not easy, but we have a lot of work ahead of us because I’m only here six games, it was very important that players understand my way of playing and my way of thinking. They have done so largely, we have a good basis and I am given the opportunity in the future to do some other things that will benefit us. We have players and we can have other options. We must remain humble and serious, the demands will be greater and they are reasonable, we must respond. Be optimistic”. Where the team can reach: “Because we have been away for many years from the major events I think we should stay grounded, as we were in the group’s six games. We want to go to a major event but not much has changed in three months, from a situation that was not good after the exclusion from the Euro. We haven’t changed much, there’s a generation of football players who want to react, she’s proud to play in the National League, trying. It’s true that we haven’t stolen anything, what we deserved we got. We must remain humble. In Greece we are easily excited and after a great deal of excitement comes great disappointment. Be serious, humble. We still haven’t been able to do a lot of things, it was a good event, but we haven’t achieved anything that allows us to be anything but what we are now. In football the duration shows the value of a team. I wish to have everyone healthy, in good condition and in March and the qualifiers will certainly be harder than this group was, with more demands.”