Golinucci fired up: "We have the quality to be dangerous"

It is the eve of San Marino–Northern Ireland, the first of ten qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany, which for the first time will be broadcast live on radio and worldwide via the TITANI.TV platform (click here). In his match preview, Fabrizio Costantini does not hide his hope of finding a common thread with 2022: "I have seen motivated players; we will try to play our game, as we showed we can do last year when we produced some excellent performances and even scored a few goals. We would like to continue in that vein, starting with this opening EURO 2024 qualifier. We must not forget that we will be facing a high‑level opponent who deserves respect and attention – like all those we will meet on the international stage – but we will give it a go. While fully aware of the quality of our next opponents, we want to show that we are here too, and we do not want to play the part of the designated victims". Pressed by the visiting media on San Marino’s chances of success tomorrow night, the head coach reiterated that San Marino do not step onto the pitch resigned to defeat: "As always, we will try to do our best to be competitive. The result will depend on the performance of both teams – obviously – and we will be up against a very good side in Northern Ireland, who have had an excellent run in recent years and who, with Michael O'Neill back in the dugout, will have something extra as well. If the logic of the question is that we hope to win, then the answer will always be yes. First and foremost we aim to deliver a good performance, which for teams like ours is an essential condition if we are to have any chance of getting a positive result". Finally, a note on the match preparations, which have focused more on the Titans given the recent change in the Northern Ireland dugout: "Since I took charge of the San Marino national team, this is the first time we have prepared for a match working almost exclusively on ourselves. The change of coach in Northern Ireland brings with it new elements not only mentally, but also tactically. Of course, we have watched Northern Ireland’s most recent outings, but the focus has been mainly on our own attitude on the pitch". Alessandro Golinucci describes a united and motivated dressing room. The San Marino midfielder explains how the Biancazzurri will approach the match with the intention of posing problems for the visitors’ back line: "I have very positive feelings: I have seen a very tight‑knit group, eager to do well, and you can sense it in every single training session together. In addition to our desire, I believe we also have the means to do well; when we step onto the pitch, we are no longer that San Marino side that simply suffers the game, but one that tries – with the weapons at our disposal – to stay in the game and cause problems for opposing defences. We know we are capable of that". Also on the scales is the international experience and sporting background of the two teams: "Northern Ireland’s great experience is certainly a factor to take into account. They can call on very strong players at very good clubs – some even in the Premier League. Compared to us they have superior quality and technique, but on the pitch we work precisely to narrow this gap as much as possible by trying to give our very best".

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