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Twenty years ago, he ran onto the pitch with the captain’s armband for the opening match of the U20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. At the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi in front of 46,000 spectators, Slovakia defeated the home team 4:1.
Marián Kurty, a native of Bardejov, who also wore the jerseys of Ružomberok and Banská Bystrica, went back in time and we talked with him about the upcoming world championship in Argentina.
The captain of Slovakia at the 2003 U20 World Cup, MARIÁN KURTY, believes in the current one hrgeneration that they will win the championship in Argentina
How do you feel about the upcoming U20 World Championship?
“The lads did a fantastic job to meet the basic objective at the home European Championships. It was not easy for them, because a lot of pressure was put on them to win the promotion, which they succeeded. Let them enjoy the preparation for the World Cup these days, because soon they will start to feel even more pressure. This stems from the fact that for the Slovak football public, this group is playable and easy to the eye.
Everyone will expect progress from them. Even, some take it as a duty. We are all aware that the USA will be the top favorite in our group. As I know our football public, in their eyes Ecuador and Fiji are at such a level that we have to beat them and at least advance from second place.”
And somewhere it was somehow forgotten that Slovakia was drawn from the last fourth basket…
“Of course. Our fan doesn’t look at that. He has his own view of football. We still look down on lesser-known countries that are ahead of us in the senior or youth rankings. We keep telling ourselves that we are better and we clearly have to beat Ecuador or Fiji.”
But you probably share the opinion of the majority that the Slovaks should advance from this group and at least imitate you by participating in the round of 16.
“I believe it will happen. To the eye, the group is really playable, but no team should be underestimated. Twenty years ago, we defeated the home team UAE and Panama, but we stumbled against Burkina Faso, which we lost 0:1. Several people in Slovakia were saying: What is Burkina Faso for us? They didn’t even know that such a state existed… The name of the state is one thing, but the championship itself will show how strong a generation of players they have.”
Photo gallery
Marián Kurty traveled to the United Arab Emirates as a player of MFK Ružomberok.
Source: TASR
When you already outlined Burkina Faso, did you ask yourself the familiar what if? If you had at least drawn with the Africans, would you have avoided the Brazilians, the future world champions, in the round of 16?
“I vaguely remember that the Czechs drew 1:1 in the group with Brazil, while they did not replace the eleven. There wasn’t much missing and we would play against him. However, it is true that even a draw with Burkina Faso would be enough for us to win the group.”
The Africans met the Spaniards in the round of 16. So it was not an easier opponent, if we consider that in the final the Spaniards lost to Brazil 0:1.
“It is true. The Spanish also had their strength. We played with them at the U19 European Championship. They blocked our way to the final. After two goals, Fernando Torres moved us into the fight for third place, in which we then defeated Ireland 2:1. So it is questionable whether the Spaniards with Iniesta at the helm would be an easier opponent.”
Even so, you had Brazil on the bucket list. After Šeb’s goal, we were leading 1:0, and Dudu’s equalizer came in the 83rd minute. In extra time, the same player secured the promotion for the favorite. Did it bother you for a long time?
“Certainly. The boys and I sat until night and talked not only about this match, but also about the entire championship. We agreed that it was a great shame that we did not take advantage of the opportunity to advance further. In this context, it is worth noting that in the event of advancement, we would have met the Japanese in the quarter-finals, who were at our performance level, so we could easily fight for the semi-finals. And the semi-final is actually a fight for medals…
We believed that if we progressed through Brazil, the next step would be much easier in terms of pre-match predictions. Brazil later blew out the Japanese 5-1. All we had to do was hang on for ten minutes and kick one simple ball into the stands and maybe we would have advanced and we could have been one step closer to something we never dreamed of.”
Do you mean the memorable hesitation of poor Juraj Halenár?
“Yes. Ďuro Halenár constructively took over the ball in front of the penalty area. The ball slipped under his boot and the Brazilians took advantage of it. The match was going in our favor. It’s a shame about the conclusion, in which we missed one detail.”
At that time, you watched the match only from the bench.
“Yes, I was replaced by Kamil Kopúnek in the 80th minute. If I were on the field, I would be in exactly the same position as Ďuro. I was a simple type of football player, so I would definitely kick the ball behind the stands… That’s how it should be. Now I don’t want to say that I could handle the situation.”
Photo gallery
Marián Kurty (in the middle) in the under-19 national team jersey.
Source: TASR
What effect did the virus in our team have on the round of 16 match and also on Slovakia’s entire performance in the championship?
“The great. It didn’t add to our comfort at all. We were the generation led by coach Polák. He trusted 100 percent those who did a good job for him on the field. Therefore, he did not change the basic lineup much. At the championship in the United Arab Emirates, however, we may not have started in the same composition even once. Still someone dropped out of the lineup, which was detrimental to the cause. If we started in the composition in which we regularly played, our strength would be greater.
Now I don’t want to say that weaker players played. No, even on the bench the players were of high quality. However, we were known for playing such mature football. Very organized and efficient. These attributes decorated us and gave our game expression exceptionality. By frequently changing the basic line-up, the strength and uniformity were somewhat eroded.
In addition, I started against Brazil after being sick, that’s why I was substituted. I’ve already had my fill. At full strength, I certainly wouldn’t have asked off the field, because I was so pumped up that I could have played two such matches. I can personally say that the virus hurt me a lot.”
Are you surprised that the venue of the championship is currently being changed at the last minute because the Israelis were not welcome in Indonesia?
“It’s a bit strange, but there is a certain parallel with our championship twenty years ago. But then the scene did not change, it just moved from the turn of April and May to the turn of November and December. It was for the war in Iraq. I was very happy that the World Championship was in the United Arab Emirates then, because everything was wonderful there, they organized the tournament at a high level.
But now the countries have changed. They know what they are doing at FIFA. If it is necessary for the safety of the teams and the smoothness of the championship, they had to intervene. I think that Argentina is an even more attractive host from a football point of view.”
What would you advise players and coaches now from your experience at the World Cup? What should they pay attention to, what should they focus on and what should they avoid?
“First of all, so that they can handle it in their heads. It is a big championship and the expectations are high. However, there is no need to immediately have high, even exaggerated personal expectations that they will advance from the group at any cost and that they will sell themselves to big clubs at the World Cup. Let them not make high demands on themselves, because they will unnecessarily put themselves under a lot of pressure. I have personally set such resolutions and failed. If God tells them to be sold, they will be sold.
However, let them not think about it and play responsibly and relaxed. Therefore, it will be very important to manage the championship, especially in the heads, because there will be a lot of managers and scouts. Not to mention public expectations. Although it is a big event, it should also be taken with a bit of a grain of salt. Let them enjoy the championship responsibly. They play football for fun. I repeat for myself, the head is very important. So that they don’t fly away like I did. The coaches will give them good advice in football matters.”
Two meetings in the group will be played at 23.00 h our time and the third at 20.00 h. We assume that you and your wife will be glued to the TV screen.
“We will definitely not miss it. Since we have live children, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some of them still work during the match. I am very much looking forward to the championship. On the one hand, the memories will come back to me, and on the other hand, I’m curious how the boys will handle the tournament, because the public and experts were disappointed with the game side of our selection at the home championship. However, the boys had a few months to spare, they gained experience in senior football. I believe that the championship will work out well for them.”
Photo gallery
Marián Kurty with his family – wife Júlia, sons Adrián (right), Miško and youngest daughter Dominika.
Source: JAROSLAV SIVEC ARCHIVE
FOOTBALL FAMILY
During the conversation, the cry of his three small children could be heard behind Marian. Out of nowhere, it started to be heard: Slovakia go for it! “We are experiencing all the championships in different sports. Also skiing. The whole family is in front of the TV and cheering on the spirit. The wife is also close to sports, so we strongly encourage Slovak athletes. That’s also why children out of nowhere in the middle of the day start shouting Slovakia into it,” Marian Kurty smiled.
By the way, his wife is a former player of Partizán Bardejov, whom he met while playing football. Fans will know her by her maiden name Júlia Pivovarníková. They have three children together. The oldest Adrián is 4.5 years old, Miško is 3 years old and the youngest Dominika is one year old. “If we move the ball between them, the smallest one – Dominika – catches it the most,” Marian added.
ZOFA? DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS
The last Mohican from the former successful team, which won bronze at the U-19 European Championship and played in the round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup, is actively playing at the first league level.
“I am not at all surprised that it is Igor Žofčák. I confess that I have predicted to several people that we will still play football at the highest possible level in our old age. Žofa was already a different cubature at that time. I am very glad that his health allows it and he can play in the top competition even in his forties. Too bad it ends in the summer. I think he would still have something to give to the Michalov boys. When I was in Bardejov with the A team and we played a friendly match against Michalovci, Igor started in the starting line-up.
Organizationally, the coach was on the field. If he started for a league match for only twenty to thirty minutes, he would walk the match in such a way that he didn’t even have to run much. Experience, organizational skills and positional play would be enough for him. Mr. Footballer,” praised former teammate Marián Kurty.
2023-05-11 06:52:58
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