Now that you’ve taken the first step, will you go into the match against Denmark with a bit more confidence?
"That win definitely helped us a lot. I’d like to once again praise the players for their performance and their mentality in terms of commitment, fighting spirit, and the effort they put into the match. I think that aspect got a bit overlooked in the overall evaluation, but it was a key factor in our victory. Still, there’s always room for improvement."
Can you be more specific?
"There were some things we could have done differently, mainly in terms of our play. I don’t really want to go into details."
Was it harder to prepare the players for Ireland or for Denmark?
"I think both opponents are tough. They each play a slightly different style, so we had to adapt and be ready for both. But it’s also about us. We need to assert our own style and impose our philosophy on the opponent."
What exactly do you mean by that?
"I’m calling for us to be less nervous and play with more freedom. We need to have more possession and play a style similar to what Denmark shows. We have to bring more creativity onto the pitch. That’s one of the keys to success."
Where do you see Denmark’s strengths and weaknesses?
"They have some very talented individuals. They’re well-coordinated, play at a high level, and know exactly what they want to achieve. They’ve been together for a while, so they’re also well-drilled as a team."
And their weaknesses?
"They exist, but I’ll keep those to myself."
How much will you change the lineup?
"You know I won’t reveal that. You always consider some changes and the types of players you need based on your plans and the opponent. But we definitely won’t rotate the whole team like in friendly matches just to keep everyone happy."