Coach – about the performance of the blue-and-yellows in June
Famous Ukrainian coach Sergey Yashchenko summed up the intermediate results of the performance of the Ukrainian team in the League of Nations, and also analyzed in detail the game in Lodz against the Irish team.
— Our team completed the cycle of matches in June with a home match against Ireland. What reasons did you see due to which the Ukrainian team could not achieve a third victory in a row?
– If we recall the two starting games in the League of Nations, then we can say that we could not maintain our high level. We all expected more from our team. The away victory over Ireland and the home victory over Armenia allowed us to think that we would cope with Ireland in the second match as well. Recalling the recent games with Scotland and Wales, in the selection for the World Cup, we saw that the Ukrainian team is among the best teams in Europe.
Why didn’t they win in Lodz? It is difficult to name one or more reasons. Our guys had a very big marriage, apparently, fatigue fell on them. It was evident that they wanted to turn the tide, but they did not succeed. Apparently, the previous matches took away a lot of strength from our players, and there were not enough emotions.
– The first half of the meeting in Lodz did not particularly please our fans …
– Now there will be a pause, and Alexander Petrakov will figure everything out. The duel Ukraine – Ireland will be remembered for a faded, monotonous game. Dynamics and courage were clearly not enough for our guys. Hence the nondescript football performed by our team.
– How would you characterize the goal we conceded, the first in this qualifying tournament?
You rarely see a goal like this. Collins, the central defender of the Irish, intercepted the ball in the opponent’s half of the field, beat the floor of our team and scored a goal into the near corner of the goal. Our players only looked at each other, believing that one of the partners would save this situation. In the last match, our central defenders, Zabarny and Matvienko, played very poorly. They made a lot of mistakes.
– At the post-match press conference, Alexander Petrakov said that after rainy Wales, many of our guys got sick. Maybe this is one of the important reasons for the faded game?
– Maybe. It’s one thing when a player keeps himself in good shape. And another thing is when, due to an infection, you cannot recover quickly. As they say in football, if a coach has one leader, this is a problem, and if two leaders, this is a real disaster.
– Nevertheless, after three rounds, the Ukrainian team is leading in our group of the League of Nations. Is there a chance to finish in the first position and qualify for Group 1 of the Nations League in autumn?
We have everything for this. The potential of the Ukrainian team is very good. We left the leaders for a pause in the tournament. Everyone understands that mentally we are ready to play among the best teams in Europe. In the summer there is time to relax, take a breath. But I should note the fact that when our players enter the field with extreme motivation, then they are better, it turns out, to achieve results. And if the players come out undertuned, then the result cannot be achieved. So in September we will have two games with Scotland, where everything will be decided. But the favorite of the group is the national team of Ukraine.
– How did the numerous newcomers to the Ukrainian national team prove themselves?
– Differently. I liked the goalkeeper Riznyk. He played the match calmly and confidently. He has extensive experience in performing in Vorskla. Sikan and Popov could not show themselves to the maximum.
– Who do you think are the leaders of the Ukrainian national team?
– Yarmolenko, Malinovsky, Stepanenko and Yaremchuk. I am not adding Zinchenko here. Sasha, in my opinion, looks much stronger in Manchester City than in the Ukrainian national team. For Guardiola, he plays in defense, but in midfield, where you have to do a completely different amount of work, he is not always effective. I would also like to draw attention to one fact. Those guys who are more physically powerful, they looked decent. We are talking about Matvienko, Yarmolenko, Mikolenko and Dovbik. But Shaparenko and Mudrik, talented guys, did not have enough strength to make a difference on the football field.
– In the 90s and the beginning of the 2000s, the national teams played a maximum of 10 games a year. Now, in two weeks of June, our players have played 5 official matches. Is it a big burden for the players?
– Of course. We are talking about physical and psychological stress. Besides, we live in a time of war. Our warriors are fighting the aggressor, unfortunately, our best fighters are dying every day. Our team needs to give positive emotions to all residents of Ukraine. This is also a certain press for the players.
— Oleksandr Petrakov led the Ukrainian national team in mid-August 2021. Is it already his national team or Andriy Shevchenko’s team?
– You know, I do not know the requirements for the national team players, both Andriy Shevchenko and Alexander Petrakov. This is the internal kitchen. Global changes are not visible. Of course, it all depends on how the players perform on the football field.
See also: Petrakov: Now there will be no new names in the Ukrainian national team
Shevchenko had successful games, both with Portugal and Serbia, for example, and failed ones. Same with Petrakov. It can be noted that under Shevchenko, the backbone of the national team was formed more clearly. Now Alexander Petrakov introduces more young people into the squad. Everyone knows that you can’t make a good team in one year. Everything needs time. And yet I think that our team is on the right track.
Source: Sportarena
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
