Sylvinho for “It's good that Albania goes to Euro, but we want more and more

As it is known, “The Quakers” will be part of the B Group in next year's European, along with Spain, Italy and Croatia, the Express follows.

The Albanian national with Sylvinho secured only for the second time in history the qualifications at a European Championship.

Brazil was also asked about a possible qualifications at the World Cup, as it spoke of sports infrastructure in Albania.

Albania's selective interview:

How did Sylvinho end up in Albania?

We went out to dinner in Milan. Soon I saw that the job offer was good, in everything. Then I traveled to Tirana and loved it. Then we started working crazy. Until recently, I was unable to find out what everyone told me - the beauty of the southern country.

If they tell the boy from São Paulo he'd end up in Albania...

) These are things you can't imagine. Nothing is known about the life of someone in football. You sign for five years and go to the first; you're in one place for many years signing one by one... It's crazy. But pleasure.

What did you know about Albanian football when you said yes?

Not much, but I soon realized that the project was good. I arrived in Tirana and found new facilities, with everything ready to work. The structure was good, many players in Serina A, in European high-level leagues... There was nothing to say no.

And language?

Albania is very difficult! But we do not need a translator. Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese... Communication with the player is easy. Everybody. Generally, in Italian or English, everyone.

How's your day a day?

) I'm with Dorivan, who played in Celta and Zabalethan. Pablo is more than that between Barcelona and Tirana. We work like crazy. We go to Federation and then to the hotel to watch the games. Of course, the food here is very good. We've been like this for 10 months, but happy. If you like football, that's life.

You won a group of Poland and Czech...

Being at Euro is already great, but we look further. We want this to be common and, why not, go to a World Cup for the first time. There are good players, good structure, a place to love football. We will test our strength after we defeat a group of Poland and a very strong and very good team like Czechs.

Albania is the country of Skenderbeu, of fighters. You see that in your players?

Well, yeah. Little by little, we are understanding the cultural and historical context, and we see that there is something that needs to be taken out. We agree with players to understand football much more than technique, tactics. Their soul was very good for us.

Do you notice on the street that people think Albania is no longer “Hirushe”, that it can fight anyone?

I don't know if we get to the point of competing with someone. We're halfway. We've managed to be an organized team with collective sense. We know that the distance from the best is great, but the pleasure we see in people's faces.

After the lot, Dalic was sad, the Spalletti very serious, De la Fuente cautiously and Sylvinho with a big smile.

Each of them is a world. For us, being at Euro is already a dream. But we want more and more. We'll work like crazy these six months. We want more, players want more. We will test ourselves to know who we are and where we are against three very powerful teams. It's a difficult group, it's obvious, but we can get there.

They start with Italy.

My ties to Italy and Spain are very strong. I got the coach's card in Italy. It'll be great for me to play against them.

What idea do you have for Spain?

What you're doing is so good. He's a good coach we already knew from youth teams. He's growing up, and he does that by winning titles. She won the League of Nations, she was the third best in the classification... And then her style, which we all know. Spain is the possession of ball, technical and very good players that make you dizzy.

There are those who say this Spain gets better with the 2008-2012 cycle because it's more vertical. Do you see that?

That's football beauty. Within the same style, it can be changed. It's the advantage of teams like Spain, which now have more direct transitions. With so many good players you can change. They can choose, but always with their quality. We have a group in which all are candidates to be in the finals.

Which Spanish player would you get to Albania?

Just one! [laughs] There's too many. But anyone would choose: Rodrin. It's a reference to Spain and Manchester City. He's a great footballer.

How important is it that the Albanian player already goes to Italy, Spain, Germany...?

Very, very important. This motivated us a lot when we were called. It's the way. The player grows and makes his way into the major championships. That gives you a lot. I know everything that gives you knowledge of other cultures, other ways to see football and life. You become a more complete player.

Because you have another “spanjoll” like Ivan Balliu.

The Federation works hard at this. Note that in Euro 2016, Kosovo players could play for Albania today, not. Ivan has been doing great for a long time.

What is the job of recruiting players with Albanian blood, but born outside Albania, or having left as children?

This is more of the Federation. But the idea is not repatriation, it's training. Grow up, go to the European Championship, try to go to a world. Let's choose those players who can choose Albania, not that we go look for them, turn them around.

You were talking about the new infrastructure...

Yeah, the new stadium is amazing. Sports City is great. It's in central Tirana. When I saw where it was, it bothered me a little bit because of the mess it could cause. But none of this. It's great. Nobody bothers us.

You've talked about the World Cup several times. You want to be the first coach to lead Albania to the World Cup?

) Football has taught me that everything goes too fast. I want to work, do things right. How long? I don't know. The idea is to learn to play championships, compete with people who say: Uh, Albania! It's gonna be hard. This is the way. What goes mass here and doesn't negotiate is the spirit of the team, of being united. That's how we made it to Euros. The future will be seen.