Zinchenko: Controlling the ball is one thing, but creating chances is another. This is how Romania won

Player Ukrainian national team Alexander Zinchenko did not look for excuses for a major defeat from Romania (0:3) in his team’s opening match at European Championship 2024.

“It is very difficult to find the right words. It was very embarrassing to look our fans in the eyes, everyone who came to support us. The guys understand what happened. We need to show our reaction in the next game.”

“What didn’t work out? Don’t know. The head coach will point out our mistakes after the game, what was missing. But losing 0:3 is always painful and unpleasant.”

“I hope we can do it [вернуться к игре после разгрома]. Yes, unfortunately, there is not much time, but we need to get out of this situation. All teams play under the same conditions, so you need to improve your game, that’s 100 percent.”

“What was missing in the second half? There is aggression ahead somewhere, the head coach spoke about this during the break. Controlling the ball is one thing, but creating chances is another. This is exactly how the Romanian team won, created some half-chances and scored goals. And then it was very difficult for us.”

Let us remind you that the blue-yellows had the ball 71% of the time, which became a record for them at the European Championships, but at the same time they hardly bothered goalkeeper Florin Nita.

The Romanians won the first half minimally after intercepting Andrei Lunin’s pass from their goal, and immediately after the break they struck a double blow. First, Edward Jordanescu’s team carried out a counterattack, and then achieved defeat after winning the ball from a corner with the inexplicable passivity of the Ukrainian defense. Zinchenko played the entire game as a left back.

The match against Romania was the 12th for Ukraine in the finals of the European Championship. The blue-and-yellows suffered their ninth defeat, and they invariably lost in each of the matches. Moreover: for the second forum in a row, the Ukrainian team missed three times in the opening match.

In the reporting match, among other things, winger Andriy Yarmolenko played for the national team for the 120th time, and at the same time became the first Ukrainian to compete in four European Championships.

Let us remind you that the second match of Quartet E brought another sensational result – Belgium lost to Slovakia with a minimal score.

In the second round, Ukraine will play with the Slovaks on June 21, and five days later Sergei Rebrov’s team will meet with Belgium.