Rashica: Turkey Are Favourites, But We’re Ready
Milot Rashica will walk out tomorrow night with a unique mix of emotions. The Beşiktaş star has spent nearly four years in Turkey, built a life there with his family and forged a strong bond with the country and its people. Yet in the play-off final, he will be lining up against Turkey in the most important match in Kosovo’s football history.
For Rashica, for his teammates and for an entire nation, there is no middle ground anymore. The equation is brutally simple: win and write history by reaching the World Cup, or go home with the feeling of having fallen one step short. There is no “maybe” left, only a final that will mark a generation.
“We are one match away from entering the history books forever,” Rashica says. “For our national team and for our careers, this is the biggest game we have ever played. What happens tomorrow will be remembered for the rest of our lives.”
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“Turkey are favourites, we accept that”
Rashica speaks about the game with clear realism. He does not hide from the fact that on paper, Turkey stand as the stronger side.
“No matter how much we want to win, we have to admit that Turkey are the favourites in this match,” he explains. “Their experience, their individual quality, the level at which their players perform every week – these are the key factors that make Turkey the favourite for this final.”
He lists the differences without any bitterness: depth in the squad, players used to high-pressure games, and a long history at major tournaments. But for him, acknowledging reality is not the same as surrender.
“We are hungry for success and proud to represent our country,” he continues. “That hunger is our biggest driving force. We believe in our own quality and in our chance to make history, and that belief makes us look forward to this game with excitement rather than fear.”
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“We believe in our willpower”
Rashica has great respect for the opponent he will face – a team he knows well, from a league he has featured in for years.
“First of all, I have to say that they are a very strong team,” he says. “Technically, they have fantastic players and they are powerful in every aspect – physically, tactically, and mentally.”
But that admiration is coupled with intense preparation. According to the Kosovo winger, nothing has been left to chance in the build-up to the showdown.
“We have analysed them thoroughly,” he adds. “Our coaching staff has given us every detail we need – their strengths, their weaknesses, their patterns. We know exactly what to expect. That does not mean we are afraid. On the contrary: we trust ourselves, we trust our quality, and above all, we trust our will. In games like this, determination can make the difference.”
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“Our greatest strength is that we are a real team”
If Turkey have more experience and name recognition, Kosovo, in Rashica’s view, possess something else that can tilt a one-off final: unity.
“Without any hesitation I can say our biggest strength is that we are a true team,” he emphasises. “We don’t rely on one star or one moment. We rely on each other. Our desire to make ourselves and our country proud is huge.”
The group, he explains, has been shaped by years of struggle, travelling to away games as underdogs, and constantly needing to prove themselves.
“We feel that this is our time,” he says. “We have already achieved a lot to reach this point. That’s why we don’t feel pressure the way people might think. Instead of being crushed by the moment, we are enjoying it. We see it as a reward for everything we have done so far.”
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No fear of the stage, only anticipation
World Cup play-off finals usually bring enormous tension. Mistakes are punished instantly, and the weight of a country’s expectations can paralyse even seasoned players. Rashica insists that Kosovo’s dressing room is experiencing a different mood.
“Of course we understand how big this is,” he admits. “But that awareness doesn’t scare us. It motivates us. When you work so hard for something and then finally stand in front of the last door, you either freeze or you become even more alive. We chose the second option.”
He believes that the way Kosovo have played on their journey to the final has already forged a mentality strong enough for a night like this.
“We’ve shown throughout this campaign that we can handle difficult moments,” he says. “Late goals, tough away stadiums, injuries – we’ve been through all of it and we are still here. That builds a certain inner calm. We respect Turkey, but we are not afraid of the occasion.”
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A special match in a familiar country
On a personal level, no one is more aware of the emotional complexity of the game than Rashica himself. He has built deep roots in Turkey and speaks about the country with genuine affection.
“This is a special match for me,” he admits. “I’ve been in Turkey for about four years now. It’s a country I love, where I feel a real connection with everyone. Together with my family, we feel very comfortable here.”
He describes warm relationships with people from all walks of life and an immediate sense of belonging when he first arrived.
“From the first day, we have been treated with love and respect,” he says. “People opened their hearts to us, and we started to feel at home very quickly. That is something I will never forget.”
Yet, sentiment will be put aside the moment the whistle blows.
“As I said, I want to win for my country,” he stresses. “At the end of the day, this is a football match, and I will give everything I have for Kosovo. All the positive feelings I have for Turkey won’t change that. For 90 minutes or more, there are no friendships on the pitch, only duty.”
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“The last step – and the hardest”
Rashica describes the situation in simple but powerful terms: one last hurdle, which also happens to be the tallest.
“In front of us stands the final step – and it is the most difficult one,” he says. “We have enjoyed our football so far in this campaign, and we have enjoyed the journey. No matter what happens, we already gave an entire nation the pride of saying ‘We are Kosovans’ with their heads held high.”
For him, that emotional impact goes far beyond sport.
“That feeling is bigger than anything else,” he reflects. “Seeing people unite behind the flag, seeing children dream when they watch us – those are the moments that stay with you forever.”
Yet he is not satisfied with only having inspired pride. There is another, higher target that still lies ahead.
“As much as we value this, we also know that we haven’t reached our ultimate goal and our biggest dream,” he continues. “We want to be part of an unforgettable adventure, to take Kosovo to the World Cup for the first time. Until we do that, the mission remains unfinished.”
Even so, he is already proud of the identity the team has forged.
“Regardless of the final result, we can be proud of the mentality we have shown, of the football we have played, and of the spirit we have displayed as a team,” he says. “That identity will remain with this national team for years.”
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What Kosovo must do to overcome the favourites
Beyond emotions and narrative, Rashica knows that tomorrow’s outcome will be decided by details on the pitch. He outlines what Kosovo must get right to upset the odds.
“In a final like this, you can’t afford to lose focus even for a second,” he explains. “Against a team like Turkey, one small mistake can be enough to punish you. We must stay compact, stay disciplined, and choose the right moments to attack.”
He underlines that Kosovo cannot simply sit deep and hope.
“We respect their quality, but we are not going out there to just defend,” he says. “We need courage with the ball. When we win possession, we have to be brave enough to play, to combine, to hurt them on the break. Our transitions must be sharp and our finishing must be clinical.”
Set pieces, in his view, could play a decisive role.
“In tight games, corners and free kicks often decide everything,” Rashica adds. “We have worked on those situations a lot. We know that one well-executed routine can change the whole story of the night.”
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The weight and power of representing Kosovo
For players like Rashica, the shirt carries more than a number and a crest. Kosovo is a young national team, and every major game still feels like adding a new page to a book that is only beginning to be written.
“Every time I wear the national jersey, I feel a different kind of responsibility,” he says. “We are not just playing for ourselves. We are playing for our families, for our friends, for people who waited many years to see Kosovo on a big football stage.”
He is particularly touched by the reaction of the younger generation.
“When I see kids in our jersey, when I see them celebrating our goals, I realize what this team means,” he explains. “We are giving them heroes to look up to, and that is something that pushes us to run even more, to fight even harder.”
The possibility of reaching the World Cup amplifies that feeling even further.
“If we qualify, it will change how the football world looks at Kosovo,” Rashica says. “It will open doors for our players, attract more attention to our league, and inspire a whole new wave of talent. We know how big the impact can be.”
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Balancing respect and ambition
Facing the country where he lives and works, Rashica must strike a delicate balance between respect and ambition. He insists that these two are not in conflict.
“I can fully respect Turkey, its football and its people, and still want to beat them with all my heart,” he says. “That is the beauty of sport. You give everything against someone, and when it’s over, you can still shake hands and show respect.”
He expects the atmosphere in the stadium to be intense, but hopes the occasion will also showcase the positive side of football.
“I know how passionate Turkish fans are,” he notes. “I have experienced it many times in the league. I’m sure they will create an incredible atmosphere. I hope people will remember this game not only for the result but also for the spirit in which it is played.”
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A message before kick-off
On the eve of the final, Rashica’s mind is clear. There is no room left for doubt, only determination.
“For me personally, there is nothing more I can save for later,” he concludes. “I am ready to give absolutely everything – every run, every challenge, every moment of concentration – for my country. This is the kind of match you dream about as a kid.”
To the fans, his message is simple but heartfelt.
“We feel your support,” he says. “Wherever you are, in the stadium or in front of the TV, we know you are behind us. We will do everything we can to make you proud once again. Whatever happens, we will leave our hearts on the pitch.”
Turkey may enter the final as favourites. Rashica and Kosovo accept that label – but they refuse to let it decide the story in advance. For 90 minutes, maybe more, they believe that belief, unity and an unbreakable will can be enough to turn a historic opportunity into an unforgettable reality.