Ruslan Rotan, the head coach of the youth national team of Ukraine, commented toSuspilneon the victory in the Euro 2023 quarter-final match against France (3-1).
Ruslan Rotan On emotions after the victory over France
- This is my job. It's my favourite job. I am really happy, but I am more happy for the players and our country. It's worth saying for whom we are playing here - our soldiers. This victory is for them. And secondly, achievements should be made at the end of your career, only then can you remember something. This match was really important, we don't have much time to prepare for the semi-finals. Recovery and a very powerful team are ahead.
On Ukraine's game against France
- I believe that the French team started the match strongly, it did not go according to our scenario. From the first minutes we tried to take control of the ball, but the French studied us very skilfully, blocked the middle of the field and covered our midfielders in large numbers. The start of the match was not ours, but I liked the reaction to the conceded goal. We didn't lose heart, and thanks to our individual skills, teamwork and character, we managed to turn the match around and beat a very powerful team. What I said at the press conference and say now: the French national team is one of the strongest teams in this tournament. Perhaps, I repeat myself, the best are the best among the best. We have removed the first scalp, but in a few days we will face the second best team in this tournament. We need to recover and prepare well.
On Dmytro Kryskiv's entry into the starting line-up
- Why did you choose Kryskiv over Sikan? It was our strategy to make Mudryk and Kashchuk stretch out and go behind us. Dmytro was pulling the central defenders. Our strategy, I agree, did not work somewhere, first of all, we failed to take control, we dropped the midfielders back in large numbers. There was no structure, we were really pressured by the French, who started pressing from the first minutes.
What allowed Ukraine to win a strong-willed victory over France
- The individual actions of the players are primarily their skills. I'm glad that the match, which was unsuccessful at the beginning, was won because of both individual skill and character. The team, which did not sour after conceding a goal, found strength and overcame. Add to that the individual skills of our players and we have the result. In the second half, we rebuilt ourselves, and this half was already according to our scenario. I think the scoreline, as far as the game is concerned, is natural.
On qualifying for the 2024 Olympics
- Will I coach the national team at the Olympics? Perhaps I can't answer this question now. But the fact that this is a real achievement for our country, especially at this time when there is a war - let's just say that it is a real highlight for our people that our team will have a football team. This will be the first time, I think it's very, very worthy.
On the semi-final match against Spain
- Spain? It will be a different match. The one we had with France now will be different. The French national team has very high individual skills among the players, Spain is a different team: due to the interaction between them, good structure, fast work with the ball - I think the match will be even harder for us. But we have to look at it the same way as before: first of all, at ourselves, how we want to play. And the most important thing, perhaps, is task No. 1 - recovery.
