Famous Ukrainian coach Serhiy Kovalets shared his impressions of the debut game of the Ukrainian U-21 national team at Euro 2023 against Croatia.
Serhiy Kovalets (photo: V. Perehnyak)- I congratulate our fans and the whole country on winning the European Youth Championship. Before the start of the tournament, I drew attention to the fact that thanks to our heroic armed forces, we were able to hold a full-fledged championship - our national teams also received high-quality training. In the opening match against the Croats, Ruslan Rotan's team featured nine players representing UPL clubs and only two legionnaires.
We played confidently, controlled the game, so I think the victory is quite natural and deserved. I liked not only the attacking actions, but also the way the defence was organised. Yes, somewhere at the end of the second half, the opponent created sharp moments, but they had nothing to lose, it was more like desperation attempts. While Ukraine counterattacked sharply, could score the third and fourth goals and close the game.
- Who did you like in Ruslan Rotan's team?
- Taloverov, Bondarenko, Kashchuk - each team had its own leaders, but first of all, I would like to highlight the team play. I liked the fact that no one pulled the blanket over themselves, which often happens at such tournaments when players want to sell themselves, as they say. Everyone played for the team, and the coaches managed to create a great atmosphere.
- Anatolii Trubin was in the starting line-up of the youth team and played "zero", although he had played three full matches for the national team before that. Was the risk justified?
- The coaching staff had time to assess Trubin's functional readiness and, in my opinion, made the right decision. Anatolii played reliably throughout the match, inspired confidence in his defence partners with his coolness, and really helped out several times. Having such a goalkeeper is a plus for any team.
For me, the bigger surprise was the appearance of Sudakov in the second half, who had also played three full matches for Rebrov's team before that. I hope that Vanat and Mudryk will be able to recover and also help the youth team to represent our country among the best teams on the European continent.
- Oleksiy Kashchuk was a real revelation, scoring a goal and providing an assist. Can the story of this winger, who preferred a loan spell at Azerbaijani side Gabala (33 matches, 16 goals, 10 assists) to vague prospects at Shakhtar, be called an example for other youngsters to follow?
- Playing practice is the key to a young player's progress and development. Recall the story of Zinchenko, who, having signed a contract with Manchester City, could not immediately break into the squad, so he accepted a loan offer from PSV. Sasha said that the period he spent in the Netherlands helped him a lot to adapt to the European lifestyle and feel the rhythm of foreign football.
Or take Brazhko - the guy had a great season at Zorya and now returns to Dynamo, but with great prospects to continue playing at a high level. Renting is a normal thing.
- Does the level of the championship matter?
- The main thing is to have trust. With less opposition and less pressure, a young player can believe in himself faster. However, I wouldn't say that the Azerbaijani or Georgian leagues are weak. There are strong competitive teams, skilful legionnaires who make you do your best.
- Maksym Bragaru, with whom you worked together at Chornomorets, also started in the starting line-up of the youth team. What qualities allowed him to grow from a First League player to become the basis of the youth national team at the European Championships?
- Recently, Ingulets hosted Chornomorets in Petrovo, and after the game Bragaru came up to me and thanked me for the trust of the coaching staff who were working in Odesa at the time.
"Bragaru has speed, he improves individually - he has great prospects. He is also a very responsible, conscientious and motivated performer who wants to achieve high results in football and help his parents. Perhaps Maxim didn't show his best with Croatia, but he is a team player who will bring a lot of value to the youth national team.
- Does the victory over Croatia pave the way for Ukraine to qualify for the European Championship play-offs?
- I read that experts had named Spain as the favourite of our group in advance, while Ukraine and Croatia were predicted to fight for second place. With this in mind, both the fact that we won three and how confidently the result was achieved makes me confident that Ukraine will be one of the two teams that will continue to fight. But only the first step has been taken. The next game is against the hosts of the tournament, Romania. This team plays at home, also has ambitions and character. And, as the example of the second host of the Euros, the Georgian national team, which beat Portugal 2-0 in the opening match, showed, the home advantage should not be underestimated.
Therefore, I expect a tough game with Romania. The opponent can present various tactical surprises, it is important not to succumb to provocations, to exclude underestimation. Play at the same level of responsibility as in the opening match.
- Ruslan Rotan's team will play their next match on Saturday, 24 June. The rest period is very short, they will have to play in two days on the third. What is the best way to recover with such a schedule?
- The format of the tournament is intense and fast-paced, and you have to play at high temperatures. In the match against Croatia, the referees paused to allow the players to drink water and catch their breath. It is especially difficult to play in such conditions. Good rest is primarily about sleep. Massage therapists and the medical staff should also help - there are no small things in recovery. I do not rule out that the coaches may resort to rotation in some positions, because the youth team, fortunately, has a choice of players.
Serhii Sytnyk
