Former player of the national team of Ukraine, well-known expert Yevhen Levchenko shared his impressions of the match of the final round of the League of Nations between Ukraine and Scotland, which took place yesterday in Krakow (0:0).
Evgeny Levchenko— Without looking at the result and the quality of the game in comparison with the failure in the first match, it is difficult to call today's result a success, because we did not manage to win. Moreover, since the prerequisites for victory were there, we had quite a few real moments that should have decided the outcome of the meeting. But, unfortunately, it is clear that we lack European experience at all stages. I don't want to talk about luck, but the moments we had had to be realized - Dovbyk, Yarmolenko, Mudryk, Stepanenko.
In a game like this, the first goal is very important, and I think it was sorely lacking today. Yes, the guys tried, unlike the match in Glasgow, today the team was more focused, collected, which, in fact, led to so many moments from our side. But the moment is not yet a goal, and we did not manage to score. When you score, the game opens up, you get a second wind, confidence.
"Yaremchuk should have been released a little earlier"
— Dovbyk already has some experience, Yarmolenko is actually a veteran of the national team, but both, as already noted, did not realize their super moments, especially Andriy, who did not hit an empty net from seven meters. Is it a coincidence or is there a certain negative trend in attacking players?
— Today, the guys adjusted to the game as much as possible, and if Yarmolenko realized the mentioned moment, the game would have been completely different, it would have been possible to calmly control the ball, the Scots would have had to open up then. And yes, when you don't score from favorable moments, you constantly try to correct yourself, catch up on what you lost, this leads to a certain nervousness. This was observed in all leaders, and I somewhat do not understand why Yaremchuk came out so late, I believe that Roma should have been released a little earlier. Yes, the game showed that we have potential, but without scoring goals, it is impossible to write the match into a positive asset.
"Quick replacement of Stepanenko in Glasgow played a bad joke on the team"
— Oleksandr Petrakov used his favorite 3-4-3 formation in this game, can we say a mistake with the choice of tactics in Glasgow?
— I like the 3-4-3 scheme, because there is a certain balance. Especially since Taras Stepanenko played today, and it is much easier to play with him. And it was he, I believe, who was the balance for the national team today.
— Was his substitution after the first half of the match in Glasgow fatal for our team?
— I think so. Whatever it is, the Taras factor is very important. Pikhalyonok did not play very well in that game, Mudryk himself did not look his best, but today he had some flashes. But everything is normal here, because both young guys are gaining experience. And development is important for the national team in order to achieve certain goals. Therefore, the mentioned replacement of Stepanenko played a bad joke with the team.
Today we played more aggressively, it is clear that at some points the team started to settle, but, again, the way the guys adjusted deserves respect.
"With Lunin, Petrakov made a strong psychological move"
— Petrakov put Lunin in goal for this decisive match. Did this decision surprise you and how do you rate Andriy's game?
— No, this decision was not at all surprising. Lunin's second match in a row in the frame. It is quite an understandable outcome, Andriy played very reliably with the Armenians, so actually the head coach put Lunin in the next game. And this is a very strong psychological move on Petrakov's part, because such players need time to feel confident, especially since Lunin has enough qualities that he can and should demonstrate. And for this, the player needs to feel in his own plate, and this is possible only through such combat matches. It is expensive when the coach gives you the opportunity to play the whole match, and does not change after 15-20 minutes.
"Petrakov attracts young people, she played with him"
— How would you rate the performance of the Ukrainian national team in this cycle of the League of Nations?
- It is very difficult to do, because we are not playing at home, the matches take place under intense pressure. And for this, we should thank the guys who go out and fight, tell the whole world that football is alive in us. Yes, the confusion with the composition makes itself felt, but globally, if all our leaders are in order, then we have quite a capable team. Well, of course, let's hope that everything in us will get better as soon as possible, and we will be able to play much stronger and more relaxed, because we will have the support of the stands.
— Oleksandr Petrakov's contract expires at the end of the year. Can he still give something to the team with its current composition, or is his mission coming to an end and the team needs new ideas?
— I would not write off Petrakov at the moment. He has grown a lot as a specialist, made great strides in development, it is visible in all his actions. He needs to be given a chance and let him continue to train. It does not prevent players from developing at all. The young guys that Petrakov brought up in the last games - the same Ignatenko, Mudryk - it's cool. And I think that UAF will give Oleksandr Vasyliovych a chance at least for a year so that he can complete his work. The only moment that is a reason to change the coach is when the players are not growing and there is no result. We are looking at the latter to a lesser degree now, because the steps in the development plan are much more important now. Petrakov brings youth to the team, the players he has - they played under him.
Well, I think that at some point Serhiy Rebrov's chance will come, in which the contract with "Al-Ain" will expire, but I would not talk about it now.
Evgeny Savchuk
