| Four years ago in Sydney, only the men's handball team managed to distinguish itself among the Russian teams in game sports, and it seems that the fans have the right to expect a new feat from them at the 2004 Games. Moreover, the women's team will miss the second Olympics in a row. But the men's team in the current Olympic cycle at two World and European Championships did not rise above fifth place. This is where we occupy today in the world rankings and therefore, for the first time in a long time, we will not go to the Olympics as favorites. The head coach of the Russian national team, Vladimir MAKSIMOV, spoke with a correspondent of the Vremya Novostey newspaper about the balance of power over the three months of the Games.
- Vladimir Salmanovich, some experts believe that we are in the “group of death” - Croatia, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, Korea. Do you agree with them?
- In any case, they are not far from the truth. Judge for yourself. The Slovenian national team achieved the greatest success in history in winter, becoming the silver medalist of the European Championship. This team is fast, tactically competent and on the rise. The World Cup winners, the Spaniards, also do not need any additional introduction, because their national championship is one of the strongest on the planet. Croatia is the current world champion. Its handball players act tenaciously, variably, in general, they are one of the most serious opponents. By the way, it was the Croats who put a barrier in front of us at the European Championship, when we had to beat them with a difference of three goals to reach the semi-finals, but ended the match in a draw. As for the best team in Asia, it is constantly improving. The Korean national team is a mobile, well-organized team whose handball players perform all techniques at high speed. Finally, the traditionally unyielding Icelanders are no gift either. In general, no one is going to give us glasses in Athens. We are now trying to convey this idea to every player, so as not to cry at the bottom later.
- Has the list of candidates for the trip to Athens been approved?
-- The Russian Handball Union sent an expanded application to Athens a long time ago. But the final composition will be determined only in June, and unlike the World and European Championships, not 16, but only 15 players can participate in the Games.
— How will you prepare for the main start of the four-year anniversary?
-- In April, a two-week training camp was held in Novogorsk with the participation of players playing in the Russian championship. It ended on May 15, and in two weeks the first of two qualifying games with the Ukrainian national team for a ticket to the World Cup will take place in Chekhov. The return leg will take place on June 5 and is unlikely to be a cakewalk. A training camp is planned in Krasnodar from June 7 to June 27. The next stage after a short break will begin on July 3, and two test matches with the German team are planned in the middle of the month. Starting from August 1, we will compete at a strong tournament in Egypt together with the French and German teams. And in Athens, before the opening of the competition, we will hold the last friendly match with the Hungarians.
—Aren’t you embarrassed by the team’s modest results lately?
-- The ever-increasing competition in modern sports does not allow even the strongest team to avoid recessions. Nevertheless, at the January European Championship we managed to achieve the main thing - to get guys going after the fiasco at the Moscow Region Governor's Cup in our city of Chekhov, where we took the last, sixth place. The situation in Slovenia was complicated by the fact that both goalkeepers were injured at the same time. Nevertheless, we lost our only match there to the Danes, which, alas, cost us access to the semi-finals. At the same time, they defeated the Spaniards, played a draw with the current world champions, the Croats, and on the last day they beat the powerful French team in good style. The team’s confident performance significantly lifted the mood of the team, after which preparation for the Games became much easier.
- You have long been criticized for preferring veterans. However, you stubbornly include them in the main cast. Are you an incorrigible conservative?
— I’m just convinced that the best of the best should play in the national team, regardless of the date on their passport. Yes, Tuchkin will turn 40 in July, but so far no left-hander in the country can compare with him. Goalkeeper Lavrov is two years older. However, he also did not lose his best qualities. And his vast experience - Andrei will compete at the fifth Olympics - is simply impossible to overestimate. The rest of the core players are in their prime, and therefore the team renewal will begin only after the Athens Games.
-- Among hockey players, legionnaires from the NHL easily refuse to play for the Russian team at the World Championships. Are you familiar with this problem?
- Everyone knows about my attitude towards refuseniks, whom I directly call traitors. And with those who begin to feel like they are in a special position, I know how to negotiate.
-Who do you consider the key players of your team?
- The brightest is left winger Roman Koksharov, who won the Champions League as part of the Slovenian Brewery. I also hope for Oleg Kuleshov, Dmitry Torgovanov and Sergei Pogorelov. The latter did not escape the “star” disease, but now this is in the past, and Serezha is ready to work until he sweats to become a two-time Olympic champion. Alexander Tuchkin is still inimitable in attack. And the guarding of the gate will be entrusted to proven fighters Andrey Lavrov and Alexey Kostygov. I have listed the leaders, and if you are interested in the ratio of foreign players to players playing in Russian clubs, then it will be approximately fifty-fifty. Interviewed by Valery RAJABLI
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