The Azerbaijan national team played four matches over the course of 11 days, three of which were official fixtures. With two victories and two draws, how did our team fare in this intense trial? Let's take a brief look at the matches.

The first match was a friendly against Tajikistan. Given that we started our campaign in the UEFA Nations League later than our rivals, this match was crucial to maintain our rhythm. Tajikistan was an ideal opponent for this test, both in terms of playing style and team level. Although our team's performance was not entirely convincing, the optimal squad was not on the pitch. Most importantly, Tajikistan's unbeaten streak of over a year came to an end.

Following this match, our selection faced a challenging trip to Lithuania. The chances were considered evenly matched. To be honest, taking the away factor into account, the opponent was seen as a slight favourite before the match. However, we were pleasantly surprised in that fixture. Although the team could not secure a victory, they showed character by responding immediately after conceding a goal. Overall, the advantage in the game was indeed on our side.

The turning point of the tournament came after returning to Baku. Everyone viewed the match against Liechtenstein as a "guaranteed three points." However, the unseen side of football is that expectations are not always met. This time was no different. Our team failed to score against a country with a population of just 40,000, unexpectedly dropping two points.

Can this mistake be forgiven? To be honest, yes. Our team has risen to the top of the group and subsequently managed to defeat Lithuania in Baku. The outlook is now much more optimistic. If we can secure a win in the upcoming away match against Liechtenstein, all the anticipated pieces will fall into place. While the heart desires 10 points, 8 points are satisfactory under the current circumstances.