Interviews with Kaas and Smil
With the final match of Ulstome's in group F finishing with an unexpected win against the favourites to win, Lanceria. We approached the team for post match interviews, which the players where only to happy to give.
Interviewer (I): I am here with Kaas (K) and Smil (S) from the Ulstome national team just after their match against Lanceria. These two players were on the starting lineup and played throughout the game. Thank you both for agreeing to the interview.
K: No problem.
S: Its a pleasure to be here
I: So lets get this started, as you well know that there was the change in the teams lineup and formation after the last game, where you both expecting to be in the starting lineup?
K: Yes I was, I had been made fully aware after the game against Andrenne by Isone that when we were going to be playing Lanceria he was going to put me on the pitch, i wasn't aware of the formation change until after the game against Guslantis however when he revealed it to the whole team.
I: What about you Smil? Considering that you'd played in Ulstome's first two matches.
S: I knew i would be playing even when the formation was changed although i would be lying if i said i didn't have doubts after our performance in the first two matches.
I: What did you both think about the change in formation before your last game?
K: I would say it was a welcome change back to how we used to play, putting a greater emphasis on our midfield and attacking options like we had when I first started playing for Ulstome which allowed us to bring on our best players who worked well together.
S: I thought it was a good change aswell, it took off alot of pressure that the defence had been feeling in the first two matches as every-time we got the ball out and away from the defence in them it always seemed to come right back in, but with the new formation we were able to get it out and it would stay out.
I: So how did you feel about your teams performance in this match against Lanceria?
K: We played very well, we went out there, we played against them, we had some close calls but we played on and we won, i couldn't ask for a better performance from the lads.
S: Yeah, it was just an exceptional performance, we couldn't ask for a better result.
I: Kaas you scored two of the teams goals, im sure your feeling pretty good right now?
K: Yeah, im glad that i was able to score two of the three goals of the match, its truly amazing to score a goal in such an eviournment like this against a good team but I couldn't of done it without my team behind me, supporting me as i moved up the pitch and creating the opportunities that allowed me to score. I would also like to thank the supporters who came out here its truly amazing to have crowds of people shouting you name, encouraging you to push yourself to go that extra bit further and get the goal.
I: If there was anything you both could change about the previous matches what would it be?
S: Bring this big lad on in all of our games. *Both of them gave a small laugh* But in all seriousness we should have used this formation and lineup from the start, i know Isone wanted the young players to get some experience as part of the team and that was why we were playing like we did but with our excellent midfield and players like Kaas on the field we would have been unstoppable against the other teams.
K: Smil, mate you over value me, its when we work as a team that we succeed, its important that the younger players get some experience now whilst they are young so they can improve and be the back bone of our team of the future, I wouldn't change anything even though i would of liked to play more.
I: Were almost out of time so one final question. How do you feel about your chances against Essalanea in your next match?
K: Essalanea has had a good run so far in this and have shown themselves to be a more than capable team. I feel confident that we can win, especially with how we played this match, but we definitely won't underestimate our opponent I can tell you that, we will play them 100% serious.
S: Yeah, we can't afford to underestimate them or we will be the ones eliminated and unable to face more teams which is what we all want to do, we want to progress further, play more and more teams and make our nation proud.
I: Thank you. Thats all we have time for im afraid.
Ulstome may have won against Lanceria and progressed as top of Group F but they arn't taking their opponents in Essalanea lightly, we will see how they fair.