On March 26, at the famous Wembley Stadium, the national team of Ukraine will start in the qualifying tournament for Euro 2024 with a match against England.
Team of UkraineA little more than a month until the significant event. By the standards of the life of the national team - if not a miserable amount of time, then something similar. Because very soon it is necessary to announce the list of our legionnaires called up for the game, then the list of players playing in the Premier League, then to conduct a training camp (either in Ukraine or abroad).
And if we also take into account the specifics of logistics, then all organizational issues regarding a trip to Foggy Albion had to be dealt with not even now, but yesterday, because obtaining a British visa is a very troublesome and lengthy undertaking.
However, despite all the objective nuances and deadlines, the situation around the start of the country's main team in the Euro qualifiers looks absurd. Our national team still does not have a coaching staff. Our national team still does not have an officially announced list of players called up for the match against the English. Our national team still does not have a preparation program for the start of Euro 2024 (it is still not clear whether the Blue-Yellows will play a test match against the English Brentford on March 23, or not; or maybe they will play against someone else; or maybe they won’t play a test match at all). In general, we can state with regret that at this stage we simply do not have a national team.
And this is many times sadder than the sluggish, but resonant red tape around the chair of the head of the UAF. Yes, I have no doubt that all these "body movements" around Andrei Pavelko for a neutral viewer are something like "Santa Barbara". Stock up on popcorn and look ahead. Or read.
Either representatives of some regional federations urgently ask Andrey Vasilyevich to leave the House of Football, or, in turn, two domestic owners of the Golden Ball "hold the maza" for their patron. Then, by the decision of the punitive authorities, Pavelko was sent to jail, but a bail was promptly paid, and the godfather of Andriy Shevchenko was again on duty. And even Andriy Shevchenko himself allegedly intends to enter Cherepanov Hill on a white horse, but Andriy Vasilievich scares him with UEFA / FIFA sanctions.
And here, dearly beloved by all authorities, whether you are at least a “dictator”, at least a “democrat”, or at least a “confectioner”, the Pechersk Court of the capital removes the head of our football federation from his post. But he does not doze off, and no less promptly files an appeal. And while it is being considered, no one will be able to prevent him from driving almost directly into the office in his office limousine...
There will certainly be a continuation of this "series". How interesting in details is how nasty in essence. So buy deep bowls of popcorn: the fun is just getting started.
And personally, I have no doubt that this most neutral viewer will watch our football Santa Barbara to the end. For, as mentioned above, this process is really fascinating. In addition, it is always interesting to see something like the fuss of spiders in a jar, lamenting "when will you all finally eat each other and it will become easier for all of us."
But about our "Santa Barbara" - some other time. Though it's really interesting. But the truth is that this series is really going to the finish line. Titles with the names of the main characters will appear on the screen very soon. And the main director. Then we will talk in more detail on a given topic.
But now it hurts more for our first team, because somehow we were very attentively distracted by our football Game of Thrones, that we forgot about the game itself, about its direct participants.
What is known at the moment about the national team of Ukraine - except that now the organization that manages all our football facilities is clearly not up to it. And we know the truth is not enough.
The contract of the former head coach of the Ukrainian national team Oleksandr Petrakov with the UAF expired on December 31 last year. Although, in fact, back in the fall, when Alexander Vasilyevich failed to break into the elite composition of the League of Nations with his wards. Actually, Pavelko did not hide the fact that the agreement with Petrakov would not be continued. This trainer was originally a fallback option for WUAs, and has remained so.
Pavelko really wanted to invite Rebrov to the team. Even after the departure of Shevchenko. But neither then nor now does it work: Sergei Stanislavovich doesn't seem to mind, but he has a contract with Al-Ain until June of this year. And it seems that there are no prerequisites for an early termination of cooperation.
There were rumors that the head of the UAF was in contact with Vorskla head coach Viktor Skripnik, allegedly offering him to head the national team. Whether this is so is difficult to say. But, in any case, Viktor Anatolyevich is still in his place, and is not going to leave Poltava.
Another possible option is a temporary invitation to the Rotan team. They say that Ruslan, the current coach of the youth team of Ukraine and Oleksandriya, would also lead the main team of the country. Just one match - in London. And there, you see, Rebrov will arrive in time - we are playing the second round for us already on June 16.
In addition to this trinity, there were no other names in the context of the helmsman of the Ukrainian national team.
But if there are at least assumptions and rumors about the person of the future head coach of the national team, then who exactly will play against the English at Wembley is not known for certain.
Recently, information appeared that the list of players for the game against England was endorsed by Petrakov. During his tenure as head coach. It was still autumn. The list has not yet been announced. However, it is already clear that that list will be taken as a basis, because it will be extremely difficult to make adjustments to it: a British visa, if one is missing, cannot be done in a matter of days with all the desire.
Consequently, the UAF, in its current unattractive position, will take the path of least resistance. In any case, it seems so to me. That is, Rotan at the head of the first team will play only one game, and Rebrov will already arrive in time for the second round match against North Macedonia.
The leadership of the UAF will simply not be able to pull off something more convincing and meaningful now.
Yes, and I didn’t really want to: now it’s more important to stay afloat.
Valery VASILENKO
