Former Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine national team forward Viktor Leonenko has made a list of the players he would entrust to play in his team if he were the coach.
Victor LeonenkoGoalkeeper - Dmytro Riznyk (Shakhtar)
"We have no problem with the goalkeepers. Riznyk is a stable goalkeeper, but now he has an injury, just like Buschan. If you choose, I would put Dmytro in the starting line-up - he makes more saves than anyone else, if you take his games for Vorskla. He is also reliable, but Riznyk is younger and more promising.
Trubin is the third. Anatoliy has been a bit of a freak lately, especially down low. Sometimes he brings the opponents one-on-one, but they do not always score, as Pryadun did. Perhaps Trubin has already gone somewhere from Shakhtar, so he has lost his consistency.
Right back - Volodymyr Adamiuk (Dnipro 1)
"Adamiuk reminds me of Luzhny, only he is more colourful. He is very good at set-pieces, always finds chances. I do not understand why Karavaev is put in the position of the right back. He is not a defender, but a midfielder! Look how many penalties he has brought to the national team and earned penalties at Dynamo. Vernidub once put him on the defender position in Zorya, and it has passed, so other coaches, out of habit, use him.
Miroshnichenko who was called up by Rotan to the last training camp from Oleksandriya? I think we must forget about almost all the players who were called up by Rotan. Konoplyanka, who seems to have finished his career, was also on his list. Rotan just recruited his acquaintances to the national team, our saviour, but it is his personal business, he is responsible for the result.
Central defenders - Mykola Matvienko (Shakhtar), Ilya Zabarny (Bournemouth)
"Zabarniy and Matvienko are currently the best in Ukraine at this position, so for me the choice is obvious. Mykola is stable but not as good at the top as I would like him to be. Zabarniy plays better on the first floor. Matvienko should interfere with his opponents at the top, pushing them up.
I would also take Imerakov from Zoria. Let him be in reserve. He can fight with us and his experience will come in handy. I can`t see Bondar anywhere in the lineup! He is always bringing it to us. When he is given the ball, everyone clings to his heart.
Left back - Vitaliy Mikolenko (Everton)
"Here I will judge on Dynamo, because I have only watched one Everton game. By the way, in that game Mykolenko was involved in the goal, he led the defender away and his team scored. He was often involved in the attacks for Dynamo, and at the beginning he even scored a goal. He also assists well, it`s just that at Everton the emphasis is probably put on defense.
Mykolenko is much stronger than Sobol, who rarely plays for the national team. Zinchenko? He is not in my team at all, neither in defence, nor in midfield. This is a man who plays on clean sheets, while our national team can only play on clean sheets against Malta, and then we'll see. Against England, I have not seen Zinchenko at all. I take to the national team players with an emphasis on defence, because with Italy it will not be possible to attack.
Right-back - Viktor Tsygankov (Girona)
"Tsygankov is being praised a lot now, but I am most happy that he has no injuries, as it was at Dinamo. He plays in the middle of La Liga, scores and gives a little, but always gets off the mark, showing a consistent level of play. I took him in my team because Tsygankov is the most dangerous player. He boldly goes to the rim unlike other players in our squad who, as it seems, are afraid to go on the attack.
In addition, we should not forget that Tsygankov is a farce. He scored a lot of goals in an empty net, with his head! Any coach dreams about such a talented player. I will make Tsygankov the captain of my team, because he is the most experienced one.
Yarmolenko can no longer drag, it's time for him to make room for the young ones, and not to sit for records, disgracing himself. I just remember how Fomenko released Tymoschuk for a minute to make him a record breaker. In the end they both made a fool of themselves.
Pitched midfielder - Volodymyr Brazhko (Zorya)
"Brazhko has shown himself well this season. Perhaps head coach van Leeuwen as it is fashionable to say believed in him at Zorya and the man shone. Brazhko is good at rebounding, he is also good at scoring, which is already a bonus, because goals are not necessary for the player in this position. His job is to rebound, set up play in the centre of the pitch and, if possible, cover the flanks. Although in our league even goalkeepers can score.
Will Brazhko strengthen Dinamo when he returns from a lease? I have a feeling that players in Dynamo learn how to play. In Kyiv team not everyone can stand the pressure and demands.
Stepanenko will be in my reserve, he, unlike Brazhko, does not score much. Moreover, I trust the young ones. Let Taras share his experience from the bench. Do not even ask about Sidorchuk. He gets too many yellow cards, and this is a big minus. Such experienced and tricky teams as England and Italy, can already provoke a yellow card in the first minutes".
Central midfielder - Oleksandr Pikhalenok (Dnipro 1)
"Pikhalenok sees the field well, gives good assists and has a good shot. He shoots more often than others, and if he doesn't, he looks for Dovbik. It is clear that Pihalenok is not as good as Brazko when it comes to tackling, but it has always been like that. At one time it was Jakovenko and Zavarov who complemented each other, although Pikhalenok and Brazhko are far from Pasha and Sasha. I will also appoint Pikhalenok as a standard performer.
Malinovskiy also has a good shot, but he is weak in tackling. My opinion is that lately he has been hitting on goal, and that's it! Perhaps the head coach demands it from him. But I've forgotten the last time he assisted in Marseille. Pihalenok is not as greedy as Malinovskiy, although he also likes to shoot. Therefore, Malinovskiy will not be in my team.
Buyalskyy? He only scores at Dynamo, he always has chances there. But the national team is not Dynamo. Pikhalenok looks better than Buialskiy. I think Kyrylo Kovalets from Oleksandriia is more interesting than Buyalskyy and better at subbing than Malinovskyy, so I'll take him as a substitute. The more so he can score with both feet".
Left midfielder - Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar)
"Sudakov always shows a stable level of play. He is a young and creative guy. But, like Tsygankov, he is not afraid to go around. He also has a good shot. I think he is one of Shakhtar's best players, as far as it is possible at the moment. Because since Jovicevic's arrival Shakhtar have simply grown dull.
"The Pitmen can hardly claim victory in the Ukrainian league, just like Dnipro 1. And the lamentable game Dynamo vs Shakhtar (1-1, - AP commentary) baffles me. If I were the players and coaches after such a game, I would hide somewhere, because both teams should be ashamed of themselves.
Mudryk is out of the question in my team! He is now a substitute at Chelsea. Only knuckleheads can talk about substitutes. Who cares if he's worth 70 million, it's Chelsea's shame, not ours. If the man doesn't play, how am I supposed to judge his level by his training?".
Detached striker - Yuriy Klimchuk ("Rukh")
Central striker - Artem Dovbik ("Dnipro-1")
"They will complement each other. Dovbik will play centre-forward and Klimchuk will pull back. Artem can fight, and Yuriy can suddenly jump on goal, which he does in Rukh. All the more, Dovbik has a good link with Pihalenok and he scores a lot, although he doesn`t always play brightly.
Vanat? I do not see the point of putting him in the starting lineup, he has not shown anything yet. I doubt that if you send Vanat to Rukh, he will score ten goals, and Klimchuk will almost single-handedly pull the team along. Therefore, Vanat remains in reserve, as well as Rusin, who has good speed.
Yaremchuk has nothing to do in my team at all. He has two goals in 28 games. Our defenders have already outdone him in terms of effectiveness!
Andriy PISKUN
