Gothia 2024 (Players Accepted for the 2007 Squad) - IFK Fjaras
Not the end we deserved!
The first half, we were better team on the field, we finally started a match dominant. All the boys interpretated the pre-match instructions very well. We have shown some class movements and plays. Unfortunately, we only materialise those movements in one goal. By half time we should have been at least 2-0 up, instead, one unfortunate moment close to half time took us to the break with a 1-1 instead.
The second half, with some changes, the team still performed on a good level, but not expectional as on the first, therefore, the opposition started growing in the game.
The 2-1 for the opposition came like a tsunami, that caused damage in our team. With roughly 10 minutes to play, the frustration of being the better side on the pitch and seeing us losing, made our players and team, to start rushing decisions and getting frustrated with certain actions from the opposition, and the referee team. In the end, we were unable to come back and get the result we wanted and deserved, a win that would lead us, perhaps to one of the best experiences the lads could have experienced (to play in the Kviberg Dome).
Nevertheless, I think it was a very good match where our players, overall, understood their roles and responsibilities on the pitch.
Summarising now the entire tournament.
Arriving Sunday evening, with England in the Final of the Euro's, still needing to unpack, prepare beds, have dinner, take a shower, deal with the excitement of the final, cool down, and try to sleep, had a massive impact in our first match, early morning.
To "help", certain players, delayed our journey to the pitch, which it was another massive constraint to better prepare the match. Moreover, we played in grass (at least not muddy), but it was full of puddles. The ball wouldn't roll on the floor. Here, I assume my fault for not have prepared the team in the first half for it, however, all the constraints mentioned above, didn't help my role neither.
We ended up with a harsh defeat, that most probably would jeopardise our chances of finishing first in the group.
Second match, different story, similar to the knockout match, but in this case finished with a win. The fact of having a full day to prepare the match. In the morning, we played a cards game that aimed to get a better environment between players, and also for them to get to know each other better and have some fun. In the meantime, coach Alex and I, had enough time to do some opposition analysis, turn the the projector on, and highlight a few clips regarding the Casablanca team. We indentified their strengths that we needed to neutralise, and their weaknesses, for us to exploit. Then, we called to our "office" all the players would start the match on the bench, to explain them the reason behind our choices, and also what we were looking to see from them on the pitch when they would be called to play. We called then, the start 11, by units, goalkeeper and defenders, then midfielders, and lastly the attackers and reinforce the game plan, individual and team roles and responsibilities.
Personally, that was key to the desired outcome of that match. To highlight, a negative point throughout the match, a racism comment was done towards to one of our players. Something unacceptable, we are all different, we might have different colours, religions, but we all should treat and be treated equally!!! We addressed that to the organization of the tournament, and we trully hope, that team gets banned to participate in the tournament in future editions.
After 2 matches, we were second in the group, and depended on ourselves to finish second or third. Last season, we decided to finish second, and played a very strong team in the knockouts that kicked us out of the tournament. Several players were aprehensive regarding that, and wanted to finish third.
For this match, I decided in sinthony with coach Alex, to give more minutes to the players that haven't played more than 15 minutes in the 2 previous matches, and give them at least 2/3s of match time. We also risked in the first half in playing with a different formation/system, that who knows we could use in certain moments in future matches. However, the idea and the message we passed was, no matter the formation or the players, the mentality needed to be to win. It was hard to ingrain it, as we could hear the players, what can we do to lose, and when to do it?!!
The way we started the game, irritated us. Thoughout the entire tournament, I assume the risk to say, that 8 out of 12 goals we conceded in 4 matches, were offers from ourselves to the opponents. Goals that we gave away when we were in possession. If we think in Tennis, it would be like unforced errors.
The second half of that 3rd match was much better, but we still conceded stupid goals. Certain players seemed that didn't want to play, or put any effort, others just turn their "engines" ON, to avoid being smashed by an opposition, that we could easily have won, if we would have shown the same principles and respect for the game as we did in the second match.
Maybe the knowckout match was KARMA. The team wanted to finish third to theoritically face weaker teams and play more matches, In the end, the outcome was similar to last season, However, last season we were eliminated by a team that has reached the quarter-finals amongst the best teams.
Aside of it, I think the boys had a very good experience with ups and downs. They got an idea, of what professional teams routines are. Outside of the pitch, they meet people around the World, build relationships, and have some fun in their spare time.
For me and coach Alex, was a long week of hard work, where we tried to promote the best experience to all of them in and off the pitch.
Next season we will have more!!!
Until then votes of a nice Holiday break!!!
