“We will look for internal reserves”: Likhachev on the quarterfinal match with Brazil the beach soccer World Cup

The championship of the planet in beach soccer in Paraguay so far is developing for the Russian team is very difficult. After a phenomenal performance in the qualifying tournament in the final stage, everyone expected at least a fight for medals from the team, but even two-time world champions had great difficulty getting into the playoffs.

And in the quarterfinals, the wards of Mikhail Likhachev went to perhaps the most difficult opponent of all possible - Brazil. The current trophy holder and the main favorite of any tournament under the auspices of FIFA won three victories in the group stage in Paraguay and scored 29 goals.

Complicating the situation is the fact that experienced Alexey Makarov and Arthur Paporotny will not be able to help due to the disqualification of the national team. However, the national team coach Mikhail Likhachev in an interview with RT promised that the team entrusted to him will fight to the end.

“We spent a lot of nerves and went through many problems”

- Why was the group stage so difficult for us?

- All the rivals here are very strong, motivated and well prepared and come not to serve the room. I am glad that we managed to reach the quarter finals, although in all three matches we spent a lot of nerves and went through many problems.

- In the summer, the Russian team passed the qualification tournament for the World Cup in one breath. Why then the team did not have problems even with much stronger rivals? In Paraguay, we hardly beat opponents who were inferior in the class.

- I do not think that the teams that came to the World Cup are lower class. Here no one just beat anyone, and this was clear from the beginning. We were seriously preparing, but in the game with the UAE, unfortunately, luck was not on our side. Nevertheless, two victories were won on moral-volitional ones: over Senegal and Belarus. Perhaps I can say more positive things about the Russian team than negative.

- How can you explain the defeat from the UAE? Could underestimate an opponent play a role?

- There can be no talk of any underestimation; this is the World Cup. Everyone comes here as configured as possible. The UAE team has progressed rapidly in recent years. On this day, luck was on her side, and the refereeing factor also affected.

- Is it possible to say that the judges “killed” us? After a dispute with them, you were even removed.

- I think they made a gross mistake by appointing a penalty kick to the gates of the Russian team. I certainly didn’t deserve to be removed, because I didn’t allow myself to address arbitrators of foul language or aggressive remarks.

“I am grateful to the guys for how they managed to rally”

- What was it like to watch the decisive match with Belarus from the rostrum?

- I was very nervous for the result. I wanted to win and go to the quarter finals. Fortunately, everything turned out well for us. I am grateful to the guys and the whole coaching staff for how they managed to rally at this important moment. I think the victory turned out to be iconic and very beautiful.

- How did you communicate with your assistant Ilya Leonov?

- We have known each other for a long time, and we had an agreement on how we will contact in this situation. All of them were observed, and how exactly, let it remain a secret.

- What thoughts arose after the first period of the match with Belarus? Was there confidence that we would crush the opponent?

- It is foolish to say that with the score 1: 3 I was sure of the final success. It was clear that we really need a goal. In this regard, the ball scored by Fyodor Zemskov breathed life into the Russian team and had a serious impact on the further course of the match.

- The game as a whole turned out to be very tough. There was no fear that things could go to a fight?

- This was hardly possible, after all, this is the World Cup, and here you do not need to go beyond the fair play. In principle, everything was masculine, sporty, for real.

“We will seek internal reserves for the game with Brazil”

- Many people think that Russia has practically no chances in the quarter finals with Brazil. How can I pass the current champion?

- Just look, we have a chance or not.

- Who can replace the disqualified Alexei Makarov and Arthur Paportny?

- We will look for internal reserves. For example, Ostap Fedorov will get his chance. We will try to do everything in order to appear as a monolithic team in this match.

- At the same time, Russia has repeatedly proved stronger than Brazil in the playoffs of the world championships. In particular, it was the Brazilians who won your wards in the final of the 2011 World Cup. Then it seemed to many that this was impossible. How did you succeed?

- We had a great team with wonderful football players. Some of them still defend the colors of the national team. In 2011 and 2013, when Russia twice became the world champion, we were at an outstanding level of readiness. Despite the fact that we now have six debutants of the world championships in the squad, we will do our best to beat Brazil.

- By the way, the Russian national team has more experienced players than the Brazilians. Many of them were in the championship. Will this be an added plus?

- Unlikely. Today I already recalled the words of the Portuguese Pedro Diash: "If you believe that you can beat Brazil, you will beat it." So, we beat them only when we believed in our strengths. Now the guys just need to believe in themselves again. Personally, I believe in them.