The well-known Ukrainian coach Volodymyr Sharan, who is currently heading the Mynay, analyzed the Nations League match between the national teams of Scotland and Ukraine (3:0), which took place last Wednesday in Glasgow.
Vladimir Sharan. Photo — Y. Yuryev"Scotland put pressure on us"
- The final result, of course, upset, but everything is in the game, Sharan noted. — In the first half, the Ukrainian team played more or less smoothly, and the starting 10 minutes were generally great. But the second half played by the "blue-yellows" was the worst during the work with the team of Alexander Petrakov.
- What did our players lose in?
- Scotland crushed us with pressure. The home team prevailed over the Ukrainian national team in desire, in wrestling. The Ukrainians played too academically in attack, and for some reason, after the break, they went from defense to attack due to short and medium passes. There were many marriages. I think it was necessary to throw the balls behind the backs of the defenders - on the move of Dovbik.
- Whose fault is it in the goals conceded?
“The Scots were just pushing us through. I understand that they are more stocky, but in the case when the first goal was scored, McGinn famously put the body to Cooper. Our defender had to fight, not to let the opponent play... By the way, in this episode, the referee could have fixed a foul, but decided to allow the players to complete the episode. That is, at the discretion of the referee.
In terms of the number of chances at Trubin's goal, everything went to the goal. In the second half, our team almost completely stopped using Mudrik's speed and technique. He seemed to have disappeared from the field, and only Sidorchuk made one long pass to Mikhail. Unfortunately, after the break, Alexander Petrakov replaced Stepanenko. The reason for this, I think, is the yellow card received by Taras. The coach was afraid that Stepanenko might be removed. This step had a negative impact on the actions of the Ukrainian team.
“Matvienko looked more or less”
- Didn't the starting lineup of our national team surprise you? Pikhalyonok and Mikhailichenko came out from the first minutes...
- Of course, it was possible to choose another option. But the same Pikhalyonok acted well. But the defense - all four, played very badly. Is that Matvienko looked more or less.
- Which of those who were forced to miss this match was especially missed on the field?
- Of course, Zabarny and Nikolenko. The players who were in the squad instead of them - Mikhailichenko and Bondar did not play the way they should. In general, the Scottish national team was this time a more powerful and focused team. The hosts of the field celebrated the victory quite deservedly.
— Please rate the substitutions made by Petrakov.
- None of those who came to replace me was remembered. Unfortunately, the coach had to rest Yarmolenko, who played at the level, but got tired.
"The main thing is to beat Armenia in Yerevan"
- The Ukrainian national team has a difficult road ahead - first to Yerevan for the match with Armenia, and then to Poland for the formally home match with Scotland...
- Yes, and this always affects the team's performance. I think our team will definitely have a rotation for the meeting with the Armenians. True, I don’t know which of the football players Alexander Petrakov will prefer.
- What are the chances of the "blue-yellows" for the first place in the group now?
- The Ukrainian team did not lose the chance to take first place. The Scots are now ahead of us by two points, but we have to play with them in Poland, where we can compensate for everything. The main thing is to beat Armenia in Yerevan.
Oleg Semenchenko
