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Dmitri Semirov at the Commonwealth Cup
FC Sheriff young midfielder Dmitri Semirov played his first match for U-21 national team of Moldova. In the interview to the official site of the club Dmitri talked in detail about the Commonwealth Cup 2015 which took place in St. Petersburg.
It should be mentioned that Vadim Pairelli, Valery Makritsy and Artiom Razgonyuk took part in the tournament from FC Sheriff together with Semirov.
- It was the first big tournament for me in U-21 national team, I liked everything. The players in most of the teams were of the same age as we are. It is more interesting to compete with the age mates from other countries. The Commonwealth Cup was organized on a high level.
Were your expectations from the Commonwealth Cup met?
Yes, indeed! I did not expect that the tournament will be organized so well. The level of the teams was a good one as well. FIFA President Joseph Blatter came to St. Petersburg.
Were you encouraged by the fact that Joseph Blatter was at the opening?
Of course, we were pleased that FIFA and UEFA pay attention to our games. Mr. Blatter addressed to all teams and wished them success.
U-21 Moldova national team gathered with such squad for the first time. What can you say about your game at the Commonwealth Cup?
That’s right, we played in this composition for the first time with a new team coach. It was hard at first, no one could understand each other on the field. There was almost no understanding in the first three games. However, it became better in the last two matches, the guys got used to each other and the coach saw the potential of each player.
But the game became better and better from game to game. At which stage did you feel that the team is able to fight for better places in the tournament than the ninth place?
Perhaps I did after the 2:2 draw with Russia. Russia was considered as a favorite of the tournament and we could decently play with such an opponent. We should admit that in the match against Russia the advantage prevailed on the part of the hosts, they outplayed us both in moments and ball possession, however we could show good football thanks to our character and set pieces performance. After that game the guys understood they can play with any opponent in the tournament. I think that we were unlucky in the match against Russia. We conceded a goal on 93rd minute of the match and could not win. If everything turned out a bit better, we would go out of the group and could fight for high places. This game was perhaps a determinative one in terms of power balance in the group. Right in that match the opportunity of winning was the highest one, even higher than in the match with Kyrgyzstan. We were ahead of Russia in two goals.
In the first match you were left on the substitutes’ bench, in the match against Russia you took the field in the starting eleven and provided two goals, after that you took the field since the first minutes in every game. Do you think those two assists let you get into the main squad?
In the game against Kyrgyzstan I was left on the substitutes’ bench perhaps because I was not called up to the national team at once. I joined the team three days before the first match. I had to adapt to the team and get used to new partners on the field. When I joined to the team, the squad was already known. I substituted in the match against Kyrgyzstan and blended in the team’s game. In the second match the coach demanded acute passes from the penalty areas and I could perform them. However I think that factor was not a determinative one for me taking the field in the starting eleven in the following matches.
You became the best player in the U-21 national team of Moldova in the matches against Estonia and Latvia. Tell me what you felt in that moment?
I was pleasantly surprised and did not expect that. All team tried hard and every one of them deserves that title. In the last game against Latvia I scored a goal, perhaps that’s why I was called the best player in the squad.
It is known that you gave the second medal to your team’s goalkeeper Radu Mytsu…
We often played on the defensive and our goalkeeper had to work hard. He saved us many times and I thought that he deserved to be the best player.
Can you say that the members of the team became friends?
The people are great. We were together all the time and in not much time we became friends.
What did the coach say after the end of the Commonwealth Cup?
He said thank you to us for our work, and that he was pleased to work with us at that tournament. Today I found out that Igor Ursaki was stated as the head coach for youth national team. I am very glad for him. He said that we have potential which should be developed.
What can you say about the runners-up of the tournament – national team of Finland and South African Republic?
Both of the teams are good. The African tried to keep it on the carpet, to play in passes. They all were not tall but in the final two goals were headed in. And to who? To tallest Fins, it is a paradox. Finland did not use their set pieces performance, that’s why they conceded by the score 2:1. I expected more from the final.
FC Sheriff Press Service
It should be mentioned that Vadim Pairelli, Valery Makritsy and Artiom Razgonyuk took part in the tournament from FC Sheriff together with Semirov.
- It was the first big tournament for me in U-21 national team, I liked everything. The players in most of the teams were of the same age as we are. It is more interesting to compete with the age mates from other countries. The Commonwealth Cup was organized on a high level.
Were your expectations from the Commonwealth Cup met?
Yes, indeed! I did not expect that the tournament will be organized so well. The level of the teams was a good one as well. FIFA President Joseph Blatter came to St. Petersburg.
Were you encouraged by the fact that Joseph Blatter was at the opening?
Of course, we were pleased that FIFA and UEFA pay attention to our games. Mr. Blatter addressed to all teams and wished them success.
U-21 Moldova national team gathered with such squad for the first time. What can you say about your game at the Commonwealth Cup?
That’s right, we played in this composition for the first time with a new team coach. It was hard at first, no one could understand each other on the field. There was almost no understanding in the first three games. However, it became better in the last two matches, the guys got used to each other and the coach saw the potential of each player.
But the game became better and better from game to game. At which stage did you feel that the team is able to fight for better places in the tournament than the ninth place?
Perhaps I did after the 2:2 draw with Russia. Russia was considered as a favorite of the tournament and we could decently play with such an opponent. We should admit that in the match against Russia the advantage prevailed on the part of the hosts, they outplayed us both in moments and ball possession, however we could show good football thanks to our character and set pieces performance. After that game the guys understood they can play with any opponent in the tournament. I think that we were unlucky in the match against Russia. We conceded a goal on 93rd minute of the match and could not win. If everything turned out a bit better, we would go out of the group and could fight for high places. This game was perhaps a determinative one in terms of power balance in the group. Right in that match the opportunity of winning was the highest one, even higher than in the match with Kyrgyzstan. We were ahead of Russia in two goals.
In the first match you were left on the substitutes’ bench, in the match against Russia you took the field in the starting eleven and provided two goals, after that you took the field since the first minutes in every game. Do you think those two assists let you get into the main squad?
In the game against Kyrgyzstan I was left on the substitutes’ bench perhaps because I was not called up to the national team at once. I joined the team three days before the first match. I had to adapt to the team and get used to new partners on the field. When I joined to the team, the squad was already known. I substituted in the match against Kyrgyzstan and blended in the team’s game. In the second match the coach demanded acute passes from the penalty areas and I could perform them. However I think that factor was not a determinative one for me taking the field in the starting eleven in the following matches.
You became the best player in the U-21 national team of Moldova in the matches against Estonia and Latvia. Tell me what you felt in that moment?
I was pleasantly surprised and did not expect that. All team tried hard and every one of them deserves that title. In the last game against Latvia I scored a goal, perhaps that’s why I was called the best player in the squad.
It is known that you gave the second medal to your team’s goalkeeper Radu Mytsu…
We often played on the defensive and our goalkeeper had to work hard. He saved us many times and I thought that he deserved to be the best player.
Can you say that the members of the team became friends?
The people are great. We were together all the time and in not much time we became friends.
What did the coach say after the end of the Commonwealth Cup?
He said thank you to us for our work, and that he was pleased to work with us at that tournament. Today I found out that Igor Ursaki was stated as the head coach for youth national team. I am very glad for him. He said that we have potential which should be developed.
What can you say about the runners-up of the tournament – national team of Finland and South African Republic?
Both of the teams are good. The African tried to keep it on the carpet, to play in passes. They all were not tall but in the final two goals were headed in. And to who? To tallest Fins, it is a paradox. Finland did not use their set pieces performance, that’s why they conceded by the score 2:1. I expected more from the final.
FC Sheriff Press Service
