Setanta Sports commentator and journalist Ihor Boyko told in his Telegram channel what Oleksandr Petrakov's selection of the Ukrainian national team will be for the match against Scotland in Krakow.
"By his words and even deeds, the head coach of the Ukrainian national team tried to convince that he does not want the team to have a clear main line-up, and even more so - a clear reserve.
Considering the options that were used in the first two matches, you can even call the lineups equal. Zabarnyi and Mykolenko made them like that in the match against Armenia. However, they did not play Scotland in Glasgow for good reasons. And that's why no one will believe Petrakov that this was the plan: to divide football players into two equal groups.
So, the formal base lost 0:3 to Scotland, and the reserve, which was seasoned by Zabarny and Mykolenko, played against Armenia.
Now Petrakov needs to assemble the best possible team. Of course, it will be a combination of what was in Glasgow and what was in Yerevan. Sebto, Zabarny and Mykolenko will definitely return.
And then there is the question.
Tsygankov and Yaremchuk at the start of the second match, and not the first, should be an indicator of the fact that the teams are equal. However, it is very easy to explain why the head coach preferred Mudryk and Dovbyk to them. In both matches, Dovbyk showed that he is in better shape than Yaremchuk. It is difficult to find reasons for the possible exit of the latter in the starting line-up today.
Both Mudryk and Tsygankov did not impress at all in their matches. Especially considering Zubkov's performance in the match against Armenia. What will Zubkov do? This would be an important confirmation that the lineups are really equal and are played by those who are better at the moment. But there is as much faith in Zubkov from the first minutes as in Yarmolenko in the reserve.
Apart from the left winger, there is another point of contention regarding the squad. The scheme and plan for the match against Armenia was very effective, although there were not always enough first-pass performers to implement them. With Scotland, there was a 4-3-3, which has already become traditional for Ukraine, but for Petrakov himself, 3-4-3 is basic. The 3-4-3 has worked, there is a better set of players for this formation, but decisions need to be made about the challenges.
The scheme with four defenders is a proven pairing of Zabarny and Matvienko. But either Ignatenko or Pikhalyonok should play in the center of the midfield next to Stepanenko and Malinovsky. Ignatenko is an important option in order not to concede to the Scots in the fight in the center of the field, but the 3-4-3 opens completely new perspectives.
Strength beats speed is an axiom. Ukraine needs speed in this match, not strength, to fight the Scots.
And if you choose the best partner for the scheme with three defenders for Zabarny and Matvienko, it should not be Kryvtsov or Bondar, who made mistakes in the first matches, but Kacharab. It turns out that the choice for the last position is Kacharab or Ignatenko.
The 3-4-3 scheme with wide involvement of wingbacks forces a choice to be made in favor of Tsygankov on the left flank. He looks more effective in the half-wings and in partnership with Mykolenko.
My optimal lineup for the match with Scotland: Lunin — Zabarny, Kacharaba, Matvienko — Karavaev, Stepanenko, Malinovsky, Mykolenko — Yarmolenko, Dovbyk, Tsygankov.
And what will Oleksandr Petrakov's choice be?" - wrote Boyko.