2023-09-09 16:20:26
“Berlin, Berlin, we’re going to Berlin”: The almost 10,000 spectators in the venue Stade de Luxembourg were thrilled when Gladbach’s Yvandro Borges Sanches put the ball into the net to make it 2-0 for the home team after a solo effort.
Although the opponent from Iceland reduced the score to 1:2, Danel Sinani closed the bag shortly afterwards and made the final score 3:1.
“Luxembourg is in the process of qualifying for the European Championship finals. I think it was a groundbreaking game against a team that has caused surprises in recent years,” says Jeff Strasser at SPORT1.
The former Kaiserslautern and Gladbach defender is Luxembourg’s most capped player with 98 appearances – and he is enthusiastic about his successors.
Luxembourg’s horror record: 35 defeats in a row
“You can see that Luxembourg football has continuously improved and developed in recent years. There is a lot more player potential to choose from now, a lot of the boys have developed further abroad. This is reflected in the results.”
Things were completely different until a few years ago: the history of Luxembourgish football is littered with series of defeats that sometimes turned into embarrassments.
Between 1980 and 1985, the Grand Duchy, which currently has around 655,000 inhabitants, suffered a whopping 35 bankruptcies in a row. When qualifying for the 2004 European Championships, Luxembourg did not score a single goal.
Jeff Strasser once played for Kaiserslautern and Gladbach
What is currently happening around national coach Luc Holtz’s team is all the more remarkable. After the win against Iceland, the eternal underdog is suddenly in Group J with ten points from five games and has a real chance of taking part in its first European Championship.
“Now there is only one goal left: second place,” Holtz announced briskly. The Slovaks ahead of them are tied on points, while Portugal with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (15 points) is the undisputed leader.
Strasser impressed by Gladbach-Juwel
“We now have a very good starting position and the opportunities are there,” says Strasser, assessing the situation. “That alone is a certain success, even if there is still a long way to go. I think the second leg against Slovakia will be crucial.”
Then Gladbach’s Borges Sanches will probably be back in the starting line-up to outsmart the next favorite. “He is a young, talented player who has good technique and high speed,” says Strasser.
At the same time, the 19-year-old winger has “great development potential and is also seen as a promising talent in Gladbach. He now needs to get some match practice and work on his physical presence in order to assert himself in the professional squad. But games like on Friday, where he made a decisive contribution to the victory, are important for him.”
There are still five games left for Luxembourg in the European Championship qualification – it will be clear on November 19th! Either participation in the European Championship for the first time or at least a respectable success in the first half.
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