Belarus defender Sergei Karpovich has admitted playing ‘home’ matches in another countries and behind closed doors is taking its toll on the team as they prepare for Saturday’s Nations League match against Northern Ireland.
The League C3 fixture will be played in Zalaegerszeg, western Hungary, where the ZTE Arena will be closed to spectators as a result of the restrictions placed on Belarus following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Northern Ireland players have spent the last few days recalling the coronavirus pandemic as they prepare for the difficulties of playing in silent, echoing stadiums, but for Belarus it has been a reality at international level for the past two years.
“Of course it’s better to play with the fans, no question,” the 30-year-old Karpovich said through a translator.
“It’s always nice to have a full stadium and our supporters, but unfortunately we have to play behind closed doors.
“This is just the reality we are facing. Football is above all and we have to face our opponents.”
Belarus are one point better off than Northern Ireland after the opening two games in the group, and have improved notably under Spanish coach Carlos Alos who took charge last year. In their last eight competitive games, Belarus have kept six clean sheets.
Both teams have changed considerably since they met in Euro 2020 qualifying five years ago, when Northern Ireland narrowly won both games, 2-1 in Belfast and 1-0 in Minsk, with both games decided by late goals.
The bigger turnover has been in the Northern Ireland squad, where 13 of the 26 players in the current squad have less than 10 caps and 13 are under the age of 25.
In contrast, Belarus have experience in almost every department, perhaps only lacking up front with Dzmitri Antsileuski the only forward in double digits in appearances.
However, Alos does not expect Northern Ireland’s youth to be a big disadvantage.
“In football now we see a lot of young players and, in my opinion, the young players are more ready than in the past,” he said.
“They have young players with experience from the top team so it is the level they are playing at rather than their age.
“(Shea) Charles came through at Manchester City and (Conor) Bradley is at Liverpool so this can be as important.”