The former head coach of Kyiv Dynamo and the Ukraine national team, Jozsef Sabo, assessed the debut official match of Serhiy Rebrov's national team against the team of Northern Macedonia.
Jozsef Szabo- I've been in football for a long time, but I don't understand this. In the first half, we weren't on the pitch at all. We just didn't recognise the team. There were no shots on goal - nothing at all. There was an opponent that dominated and could still score. Teams come out in the second half and it's the other way round - ours play and the Macedonians walk. Did they think that they could beat the team? It is impossible! In football you have to keep moving, moving around all the time. Hats off to our national team for their performance in the second half. They played great and God grant that it will last like that! There is a team, Rebrov - well done. Probably, he found the right words for the players at half-time. I enjoyed the game, especially the second half.
- What percentage of blame for the conceded goals by our national team?
- Speaking of penalties, it is unclear why Matvienko put his hands in front. He used to be much more useful to the team than now. Our second goal: what was our goalkeeper doing when he moved? Was he standing on the goal line and unable to take it? The shot was great, but the goalkeepers have to take those shots, to send them to the corner. That's why it's 50/50.
- Are the goals for our national team - the ones that you trained for?
- The goal from a corner shows that it has been worked on in training. The third goal scored by Tsygankov also indicates that it was worked on in the training process. It cannot be otherwise. Mudryk put in a great performance.
- Who are the leaders of the team?
- Tsygankov has played great. Girona showed a different way of playing, they taught him to rebound, he`s shifting inside. It is noteworthy that Tsygankov is growing. Fortunately our players go to European teams, where they can progress. The question is, what are we doing wrong in the league, that our players are stopping to grow? Stepanenko is also doing a lot of useful work. Well, and Mudryk - he has shown that he is a footballer. He looks for open space, was not afraid to challenge four defenders, gave a clever pass to the back and Konoply got a great shot. Perhaps he was also lucky to have hit the corner. The third goal showed brilliant understanding between our players. The opposing defence just stood there and watched. I do not know what teams they play in.
- What are your expectations for the match against Malta?
- The main thing is not to praise our players. We must beat Malta. We must charge the pace from the start, not to leave the rival alone, put pressure, control the ball, get more shots on goal and must score. The Ukraine national team are the favourites, but they need to prove it on the pitch with goals. If they keep playing like they did in the second half, they can fight for the second place in the group.
Mykola Tymoschuk
