Alexander was not included in Ukraine’s squad for the match with Italy
Defender of the Ukrainian national team Alexander Karavaev before the match with Italy in the qualification for Euro 2024, he noted that the blue-yellows would face a very experienced and competent opponent.
“Everyone understands how important this match is. Many of our players were already in this situation when we played the previous Euro qualifier, when we had Portugal and Serbia in our group. But we had a better position there, we didn’t lose a single match. As we said before, everything will depend on us in the last match. As Sergei Stanislavovich told us, many in our team have not yet fully revealed their potential, so this is just the kind of match when we can do this. And much more than in previous qualifying matches. This is what can be the key to victory.”
“The strengths of the Italian team? First of all, individual qualities, because everyone plays in top leagues and top teams. This is their big plus. In general, Italy has always been famous for its tactical formation. They act correctly in defense and attack. Everyone knows exactly what to do on the field. In theory, we see very well that not one or two players combine, but three, four, or five. They know exactly who will run where, this shows the class of the team. They have a very organized team.”
“You have to play with them more concentrated and, no matter how trivial it may sound, not make mistakes. After all, this opponent will immediately use them. When you come out of defense and pass through the center, you must be completely sure that this pass will go through. If not, they will immediately take advantage of this mistake and launch a counterattack. So you need to play very reliably in your own half of the field, and in someone else’s half you need to play more riskily in order to create chances.”
Karavaev was not included in the Ukrainian national team’s squad for the reporting match with Italy. Along with him, defender Maxim Taloverov and midfielder Egor Nazarina will miss the game.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti also announced his request for the match. Forward Domenico Berardi will not play against the blue-yellows.
Ukraine will play against Italy today in Leverkusen (Germany) at the BayArena stadium. The meeting starts at 21:45 Kyiv time.
Spalletti’s team is in second place in Group C with 13 points. Ukraine also has 13 points, but is inferior to Italy in additional indicators. To qualify for the Euro directly, Sergei Rebrov’s team needs to beat Squadra Azzurra with any score.
If Ukraine fails to beat Italy and qualify directly for the Euro from second place in its group, it will have a fallback option – the Nations League playoffs. Rebrov’s team will be waiting for the “final four” of division A or division B.
Source: Sportarena
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