In the final match of the League of Nations-2022/2023, the national team of Ukraine played a draw with Scotland (0:0) and did not manage to rise to division A. After the match, the captain of our team, Andriy Yarmolenko, assessed this result.
Andrey Yarmolenko. Photo — Getta"We didn't win, we didn't get the result we wanted, but I'm proud to be here, proud of the guys who just fought on the football field. We did what we agreed on before the fight - not to lose the fight and the tackles. I think we played well considering the weather conditions. The field was not in the best condition. But this is by no means an excuse. This is football. Sometimes you score some illogical goal and win, sometimes you create a lot of chances and don't score. If I or Artem Dovbyk had scored in the first half, the game would have been a little different. But sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It is necessary to move on, nothing terrible has happened.
I think the fans in the stands enjoyed themselves. They saw the most important thing - that we fight for this coat of arms on our chest, for the T-shirt we wear. We would like to express our big thanks to them for coming to support us in such weather at this difficult time. We felt the support that was at the top level.
Of course, the sediment remained, because they created several good moments and did not score. These moments sealed the fate of the entire group. Therefore, it is somewhat unfortunate, but, I will repeat, the boys gave their all, they were very upset in the dressing room. However, you have to keep your head up and move on. We played with a good opponent. Scotland shows good football, many of its players play in the English Premier League. I think we played well.
My 112th cap? I remember all the games. Every match in the national team is like the last one for me. I always give it my all. I just want to thank all my partners with whom I have played and will play, the fans for their support and criticism. It means a lot to me. When Oleksandr Vasyliovych handed me this T-shirt, I could barely hold back tears. I wanted to say something, but I kept silent because I would have cried. It means a lot to me.
We will work. Football is such a thing that you just have to work and then the result will come. We gave it our all. Sometimes you score from a half-moment and you win. Sometimes you create 10 scoring chances and you can't score. This is beautiful football. Therefore, we move on, nothing terrible happened. I think the fans were satisfied with our game, but not with the result, like us," Yarmolenko said after the match in Krakow.
