On 11-16 October Georgian U-19 National Team will participate in the third group of European Championship 2011 first qualifying round in Portugal. Besides Portugal there will be Greek and Azerbaijani teams. The first and the second place winners will go through the elite-round. Vladimer Gutsaev’s team had preparation in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. His team had friendly match with “Gagra” and won 4:1, Nika Dzalamadze scored one goal and Giorgi Chanturia hit-trick. Georgians leave for Portugal on October 9 at dawn and on October 11 will hold the first match against Greece.  On October 13 they will play against Portugal and on October 16 against Azerbaijan. Before leaving a head coach of Georgian U-19 Football Team Vladimer Gutsaevi held press-conference with press- rep of Georgia Football Federation Lasha Dvalishvili at press-conference hall of Federation.

-How did team prepare for the future tournament and if you had all necessary conditions for it?
- Everything was normal. We were planning to gather last time in Spain, but due to some reasons we could not. That’s why we were preparing in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. We checked all the players during the playing. Irakli Shekiladze who plays in “Empole” injured. We agreed that he would come but he injured and the leadership of “Empole” did not let him to come. Giorgi Iluridze injured ankle (“Anzh”, Russia), he arrived in Tbilisi we checked and his playing excluded.  
- Dzalamadze injured while playing against “Gagra”. Is there anything emergent?
- There is nothing emergent. “Gagra” players were doing their best on the pitch and Dzalamadze was hit on a muscle, now he has individual training.   
- There are only two nominal forwards in your squad- Lasha Chapidze and Giorgi Chanturia. But Chanturia is disqualified for two games and he will be able to play at the end of the tournament. So, you are leaving for Portugal with one forward.
-  Okriashvili will play as a midfielder, he looks well in this position.  I think three forwards- Chapidze, Okriashvili and Chanturia are enough.
- Zviad Sikharulia’s playng was excluded at the last monet…
- At the meeting as a rule we check our players, weight them, listen pulse and check pressure. Sikharulia had high pressure and a doctor Valeri Akhalkatsi checked him and said that player had heart problem. There is nothing emergent but he should rest and will not be able to leave for Portugal
-When Ananidze will join you?
- After playing against Latvian National Team, Ananidze will leave for Portugal and will participate in the match against Azerbaijan. On Wednesday I talked Karpin twice, in the morning and in the evening and explained that we need Ananidze and he showed collegialattitude towards us. We take Ananidze and Chanturia because it is quite possible that match against Azerbaijan to be decisive one.
- Do you have any kind of information about opponents?
- My friends provided me video cassette of the match between Greece and France (3:3). We have already watched it and on October 9 will watch it with players. We know what tactic Portugal has. We played against Portugal U-20 team while being in Portugal but the same tactic has U-19.On October 11 one of our coaches will attend Portugal-Azerbaijan match. According to UEFA disciplines, Portugal has not right not to give us cassette of the match. So we will have information about Portugal and Azerbaijan.
- One of the goalkeepers is disqualified and how many goalkeepers will you take in Portugal?
- Legashvili is good goalkeeper, but he is disqualified for one match. That’s why instead of him Nadiradze and Azniashvili will come in Portugal. They are in the main staff of the first match.
- What shortcomings do your players have?
- Those players who play oversees are better then local ones. Today, we have checked 3-4 players and their condition is not satisfying. But in 2-3 days we will do anything. Beside physical readiness, these players need much work for tactic.

- Is it possible to consider Georgian team as a favorite?
- Traditionally favorites are considered Portugal, France, Italy and Germany. But to my mind there is not big difference among teams at such age. So, according to it we can be considered as favorites. First of all players should be inspired and good tactic is very necessary. If we had Chanturia and Ananidze from the first match would be stronger. But other our players are quite good ones.
Georgian U-19 squad is the following:
Goalkeepers: Giorgi Nadiradze (“Dinamo”), Davit Legashvili (“Norchi Dinamoeli”), Giorgi Azniashvili (“Olympi”).
Defenders:Mamuka Kobakhidze (“Zestaponi”), Saba Kvirkvelia (“Zerniti II”, Russia), Avtandil Brachuli (“Rubin II”, Russia), Bakar Mirtskhulaa (“Benfika II”, ortugal), Nika Kvekveskiri, Nika Afakidze (both in “Baia”), Mindia Putkaradze (“Adeli”), Irakli Khuchua (“Gagra”);
Midfielders: Jano Ananidze (“Spartaki”, Moscow, Russia), Tornike Okriashvili (“Shakhtar II”, Ukraine), Giorgi Chelebadze (“ Chernomorets”, Ukraine), Nika Dzalamadze (“CSKA”, Moscow, Russia), Levan Elizbarashvili (“Norchi Dinamoeli”);

Forwards: Giorgi Chanturia (“Vitesse”, Netherlands), Lasha Chapidze (without club).
 

Lasha Tabagari