Laïdouni: I don't care who comes against me, I'm tough as old boots

–What did you think when you found out that your Ferencváros teammates, Samy and Ryan Mmaee, are not traveling to Qatar?
– I was still in Budapest last week when I heard the news – Aïssa Laïdouni, the 25-year-old, 25-time Tunisian national team midfielder, told our newspaper. He joined Ferencváros in July 2020 after leaving Romanian club Voluntari, and he immediately became a key player for the Hungarian champions. – It came as a surprise to everyone that they were not selected, as their place in the squad had been assured in the past. Both of them are core players for Fradi and played international cup matches in the fall. At first, I didn't know what to say to them. I spoke to them after the decision, I didn't even dare to think about how they must be feeling.

–Where are you now?
– At the hotel in Qatar. The Ferencváros managers were generous and let me go in time to join the national team, which was already training in Saudi Arabia, so I missed the match against Honvéd. I flew from Hungary to Saudi Arabia first, spent a few days there with the team and then came over to Qatar to take up our accommodation. We traveled to Doha on Monday; fortunately, the distance between the two was not too far.

–Have you been to Qatar before?
– No, but it's the best time to be in Qatar! When, if not during the World Cup? As for the conditions, I was told at the hotel that if I had been here a few years ago, I wouldn't recognize the city since a lot of new buildings have been constructed. After training, we have the opportunity to walk around the area in the evening, it's amazing what I've seen so far.

– France, Australia, and Denmark await Tunisia in the group stage. What do you think of the opponents?
– It's not an easy group, but the World Cup is like that anyway. Our opponents are great teams, but we are here for a reason, and we want to prove it. We believe in ourselves, we won't be small-minded.

–Does that mean that you see any chance of advancing from the group?
– The last six months have set a good example for me. With Fradi, we proved that in football, the impossible does not exist. After the draw for the Europa League, everyone thought it would be good if we finished third, but we won the group and reached the final eight. I told the others a lot about that here at the training camp. We're in good shape for the tournament, having defeated Chile, Japan, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Mali, among others. In Doha, as a rehearsal for the World Cup, we won over Iran 2-0, which is also in Qatar for the tournament. We are confident going into the World Cup, there is nothing to fear.

–Are you a footballer who is not afraid of anyone or anything?
– Every footballer should be like that. You can't play football with fear. In my personal life and in sports, I know what my goal is, and I do everything to achieve it. We respect all the opponents in the group, but we were not scared of them, just as I was not scared in Monaco, Belgrade, or Trabzon as a Fradi player. We'll fight as we should.

–You were born and raised in the outskirts of Paris. How special will the group match against France be?
– I'm looking forward to that game the most, it will be a special one for me. I was born in France, I started playing football there, I've been following the French league since I was a kid and most of my family still live in France.

–Don't you have any relatives in Tunisia?
– I do: my aunts and several cousins live in Tunisia. The country is fabulous, the capital Tunis is a wonderful place. But no question, my parents, brothers and sisters in France are also cheering me on. I want to make the French team's players' lives miserable and make Tunisia proud.

–Can you imagine the French not making it through the group stage?
– They are the favorites, the defending champions. Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema are brilliant footballers. But on the pitch, I don't care who comes up against me, I'm tough as old boots.

–Is the plan that the team will fight against Denmark and Australia for second place?
– I don't think about it. Our first game is against Denmark on Tuesday, and it will be a crucial ninety minutes. We want to start well. Our group is also exciting because the four teams come from three different continents, which adds color to our matches.

–A juggler in midfield, a world-class conductor, a jet-propelled engine in the middle of the pitch – to name just a few of the praises from the newspapers over the past year. Which are you most proud of?
– I'm most proud of the fact that when I was playing on the streets in France and later in the youth teams, I had as much fun playing football as I do now. My mentality hasn't changed a bit over the years. This style and attitude to life that is closest to me. When I possess the ball, I try to make magic with it. I am grateful to life for what I have achieved so far. I made my debut for the national team in March last year and I'll never forget the day I got to play against neighboring Libya in Tripoli. Since then, I've been to the Africa Cup of Nations and now the World Cup!

–Are you aware that you are the only footballer from the Hungarian league to play in Qatar?
– I've read about it and I'm proud of it. But I hope Hungary will qualify for the next World Cup in four years. I have fallen in love with the country, the people and the fans are wonderful.

–Ferencváros' previous World Cup player was Bosnia's Muhamed Besic in 2014. Did your teammate give you any pointers?
– I've been talking to him a lot recently, and he told me about the tournament in Brazil eight years ago, where he was in the starting line-up for all three group games against Argentina, Nigeria, and Iran. He stressed that it will be important to eat and sleep well as I have to play three matches in nine days, which is a big challenge. He then added: "Enjoy every moment of the tournament! You never know if you will have the chance to do it again.”

Translated by Vanda Orosz