“Playing in Baku is inconceivable”

Antonin Barak, who made his debut at Euro 2020 in the round of 16 match against the Netherlands, faces with a special affection the quarterfinal match on Saturday against Denmark. This 26-year-old midfielder trained in his hometown team, Pribram, who later went through Slavia Prague, Udinese, Lecce and now plays for Verona, made his debut as a senior international on November 15, 2016 in a friendly against the Danish national team under the guidance of then-manager Karel Jarolim.

It took him eight minutes to open the scoring at the Mlada Boleslav stadium and it is something he will never forget. Five years later, he remembers the meeting of his premiere with great affection and looks at the historic clash on Saturday with ambition, like the rest of his colleagues.

“I remember that game fondly. I managed to score a goal right at the beginning of my first game with the national team. It was a great experience. It was making one of my dreams come true.”, indicated Barak, who specified that nevertheless that does not mean that Denmark is his favorite rival, but only one match.

At the Puskas Arena in Budapest he had the opportunity to be part of the starting eleven for the first time due to the loss of Vladimir Darida and he took advantage of it perfectly to contribute with a great performance to the victory of Jaroslav Silhavy's team 2-0 and reach the quarter-finals, an unexpected level before the start of the Eurocup.

“I felt very good. I was prepared. I had not played a whole game in a long time and that is why it is important for all the players to be fit. In training I had felt good. The conditions in Budapest were difficult due to the heat, and both teams knew that the forces would be lost. But when you lead the game, fatigue is carried differently, “he explained to reporters.

Barak explained that he reached the European Championship after a good season with his club. “The team was doing well and I got on the wave. It was a successful campaign and that's why I arrived well,” said the Verona footballer, who “hoped to have more opportunities” in the Czech Republic's starting line-up at this European Championship because “I thought I had something to contribute to the team.”

“But I respected any decision (by the coach) and prepared to help the team at any time,” said Barak, who is happy with how he played against the Netherlands, seeing so many fans, and for “sending such a positive message to the Czech Republic.”

He does not know if he will repeat ownership on Saturday, “because it is the coach's decision”, but that he will be ready, like the rest of his teammates, as well as he assured that he is not considered a direct competitor for the position with Darida.

“We can also play together. We have an excellent relationship, no matter who of us plays. The important thing will be to be successful as a team. I think Vlada will be ready, which means the team will be stronger,” he said.

In Baku he will face a group of Danish players whom he has faced on several occasions in the Italian Serie A and even friends like Jens Stryger Larsen, with whom he coincided at Udinese. “He is a quality defender,” said Barak, who also highlighted captain Simon Kjaer, from Milan, or Mikkel Damsgaard, from Sampdoria, whose high valuation in the market “speaks for itself”.

“I really want to face them. I think we can do it,” said Barak, who had many friends and his father at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, where he was able to play in front of a stadium that was practically full of fans.

“The fan base is important, and even from that point of view we regret that the quarterfinals are being played in Baku, because we will not have fans and families there. I still do not understand. Playing in Baku is inconceivable. Even if it were played in Copenhagen, for example, which is Danish soil, we would have some fans and loved ones. It would be completely different, “he explained.