IHF.com 05.01.2013
“The success of my team is more important than my goals”
He is the all-time record scorer at a single world championship event by scoring 92 goals in nine matches 2009 in Croatia, and he is the all-time record scorer of a single European championship by hitting the net 61 times in 7 seven matches at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia: Kiril Lazarov is a "goal machine", but does not like to be called like this. Two month before the world championship in Spain the biggest Macedonian handball legend of all times, has reached the "club 1000", scoring more than 1000 goals for the Macedonian national team. Lazarov (32) will play his second world championship in 2013, facing Denmark, Iceland, Russia, Qatar and Chile with Macedonia in the preliminary round. His team sensationally ranked fifth at the EURO 2012 and was on eleventh position 2009 at the WCh in Croatia. In this interview the right back of IHF Super Globe winner Atletico Madrid - two times top scorer of the EHF Champions League, too - talks about his role and objectives at the world championship. Lazarov was the youngest Macedonian ever to play in the men's national team with 17 years only, and already had played his first European Cup match with 15 years and four month for Pelister Bitola. Since then he won 32 titles with his former and current clubs like Veszprem, Zagreb or Madrid.
After the 5th rank in Serbia - is Macedonia a candidate for the semi-finals in Spain?
Kiril Lazarov: Before talking about semi-finals and finals we must do our homework in the first two matches at the world championship against Chile and Qatar. If we win both, we are going to the eight-final, and then we can talk again.
Is it something special for you to play a world championship in Spain, as you play for a Spanish club?
Kiril Lazarov: Spain is a wonderful country, in January the temperatures are really warm, I speak Spanish and I have a lot of friends there – it will be wonderful!
Will you get some support from Spanish fans?
Kiril Lazarov: I hope so. But you have to acquire support first by success, courage and fighting spirit. But I also hope to get support from the locals.
In Serbia, Macedonia were boosted by the spectators - will a lot of Macedonians come to Spain, too?
Kiril Lazarov: Serbia was very close to Macedonia, Spain is very far away, but I am absolutely sure that in Sevilla we will have support from our faithful Falanga of supporters.
Metalurg Skopje play a brilliant season in the EHF Champions League - is this a good omen for the Macedonian national team, as a big number of your national team mates play for Metalurg?
Kiril Lazarov: Metalurg play very good currently, but still it is only the Group Phase of this competition - the real tough clashes start from the eight-finals on. But of course, in general it is very positive for the national team to have such successful clubs from Macedonia.
Is Denmark your favourite for this group, or is Macedonia able to take revenge for the last-second defeat at the EURO in Serbia?
Kiril Lazarov: Denmark is a perfect example what is possible if a national team works. Of course we will give all we can to play a good match – then we wait and see what is possible.
What are your personal favourites for winning the gold medal - except Macedonia?
Kiril Lazarov: I first only want to talk about the favourites in our group, as in sport favourite roles can change very quickly. So Russia, Denmark and Iceland are our main contenders on the way to the eight-final - and in those matches little things can decide whether you win or lose.
In the previous world championship you played with Macedonia in 2009 you were top scorer – even all-time top scorer. Is this an award you want to get in Spain, too?
Kiril Lazarov: Of course I wish to be as successful as in 2009, but it is not only in my hands. A lot of things need to happen to be on top again. But the success of our team is much more important than the number of goals I score.