Tiknizyan hopes to rebound after Georgia defeat

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia national team and Lokomotiv Moscow defender Nair Tiknizyan has commented on the team’s heavy loss to Georgia in the UEFA Nations League play-offs, revealing in an interview with RB Sport that there was a "mild mourning" in Armenia after the match.

He expressed hope that the situation would improve by summer.

"How did I get over the defeat to Georgia? Of course, it’s hard and unpleasant to lose by such a wide margin. What did we talk about in the locker room after the match? Usually, players don’t say much after such losses. So, after the game in Tbilisi, the Armenia locker room was silent.

There was a slight mourning in Armenia after the defeat to Georgia, but I hope things will improve this summer, and we’ll be well prepared for the World Cup qualifiers in September," he said.

Under the leadership of John van ’t Schip, Armenia has been drawn into Group F for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Hungary, Ireland, and Portugal.

*In the UEFA Nations League play-off return leg, Georgia beat Armenia 6–1. Immediately after the match, a group of Georgian fans caused disturbances by storming the pitch, approaching the Armenian supporters’ section, and throwing plastic bottles at them.

UEFA fined the Georgian Football Federation €40,000 over the incidents during the March 23 match in Tbilisi.*