Last week was a week of euphoria following the successful performance of the youth national team at Euro 2023. And even Ruslan Rotan's team's withdrawal from the tournament a step before its decisive match did not affect the positive mood of the national sports press.
Photo: uaf.uaOn the evening of Sunday, 2 July, the Blue and Yellows surprised everyone with a confident 3-1 victory over the French, one of the main favourites of the competition. With their performance on the fields of Romania and Georgia, our youth team gave a powerful emotional charge to the fans and the media for the following days.
It was not only that we reached the semi-finals of the youth championship for the first time in 17 years, but also qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. At the Olympic Games, independent Ukraine will take part in a football tournament for the first time in its history!
SUCCESS AGAINST ALL ODDS
Thus, Ruslan Rotan's boys went into the battle with the French knowing that it would definitely not be the team's last at the Euros. In case of defeat, and thanks to England's victory over Portugal in the other quarter-final, they would receive a consolation prize in the form of a play-off against Georgia for a ticket to the French capital next year.
And on the eve of the clash with the Tricolours, there were few optimists who actually believed that the Blue and Yellows would reach the semi-finals. Of course, the fans hoped for success, the media drew chances, but there was no confidence in the media space. And it was natural, because:
"The French national team did not lose a single point at this European Championship, the team beat Switzerland, Norway and Italy in the group. And we were also in the same qualifying group with the Roosters and first lost 0-5, and then drew 3-3," Igor Tsvyk from Sportanalytic.com recalled the day before (03.07.23).
However, Rotan's men played and, most importantly, won, despite all the odds and predictions. After the game, experts admitted that they had not expected this.
"I'm not going to lie, before the game I never dreamed that our guys would be so confident in dealing with the French. France now has a very cool young generation, even a star one. I can safely say that. One of the best youth teams on the continent, for sure. But things happen in football, for example, when the favourites, and that's what Sylvain Ripoll's team was considered to be, lose. Did Ukraine win fairly? Absolutely," said Ivan Getsko, a former striker for Chornomorets, Karpaty, Dnipro and the author of the first ever goal for the Ukrainian national team (Sportnews.com.ua. 04.07.23).
"I didn't expect this," Jozsef Szabo, the former manager of Dynamo Kyiv and the Blue and Yellows, admitted in a commentary to UA-Football, "In my predictions for this match, I regarded the chances of the opponents as 50-50. But our team did a great job - both the coaching staff and the boys. They built the game tremendously, perfectly! Only at the beginning of the match, for 10-15 minutes, the situation on the pitch was not in our favour, but then the guys sorted it out and everything went well. And the second half was all ours." (Ua-football.com, 03.07.23).
Meanwhile, experts and journalists agree that several factors worked together to ensure our victory at the Cluj Arena. The puzzle was made up of tactics, game discipline, individual qualities of the players and the character of the team. The hero of the match was formally Georgy Sudakov, the author of the double, but in fact this title can be awarded to all our guys. For their will to win, for their ability to keep their heads up after a goal in their own net, for their unwavering belief in themselves and for their skills, without which it would have been impossible to beat France.
"I think that since Valery Lobanovsky's time and until recently, Ukraine has not been able to create a team that would have the right to claim the status of a trendsetter in world football. And now we have such a team again! The youth team of Ruslan Rotan and his staff is one of them. The structure of the game demonstrated by its players really has the right to claim exemplary status.
No one is talking about the perfect execution of the plan, but the image of the vision of collective action and the way this image is implemented is undoubtedly very close to the best examples of modern football. Moreover, as the matches of the final tournament of the European Youth Championship showed us, the team retains the structure proposed by the coaching staff in any combination of players! This indicates that each of them knows perfectly well not only their individual tasks, but also understands the whole picture of actions. Hence the excellent mutual insurance and seemingly easy interchangeability. The match with the French was absolutely exceptional in this regard!" - said the well-known journalist Igor Linnik on his Facebook page (04.07.23).
Obviously, for the French, such a performance by the Ukrainians was to some extent unexpected. The powerful start to the match with a relatively quick goal played a cruel joke on them. It turned out that the young Gauls believed in their omnipotence too early.
"We can see that we have a team, and the French have a set of players. The opponent acted strongly individually, but there was no team. In my opinion, the French underestimated our team somewhere, their overconfidence played a cruel joke on them. When they had to play back, they were unable to rebuild and broke down psychologically. While Ukraine played reliably and solidly and naturally won.
As a reward, we have the first ever access to the Olympic Games. During the war with Russia, this is very important, because in this way we demonstrate to the whole world that Ukraine lives, develops and wins," emphasises a well-known Ukrainian expert Serhiy Kovalets (Footboom1.com, 04.07.23).
Indeed, the success of the national team has given Ukrainians the same emotions that players and coaches have been regularly talking about in their interviews since the start of the full-scale invasion of the racists. And for this, Ruslan Rotan's wards should be thanked. Although the coach is well aware of this himself.
"I am really happy, but I am more happy for the players and our country. We should always say for whose sake we are playing here - these are our soldiers. Congratulations to them, this victory is for them," the Ukrainian youth team manager said on Suspilne TV (03.07.23).
CHAMPIONS OF THE HEARTS OF UKRAINIANS
Unfortunately, the Ukrainians failed to travel directly to the title match. On Wednesday, the Blue and Yellows lost the match of the 1/2 finals of the European Championship to their peers from Spain. The defeat was devastating and painful - 1-5. However, according to most media outlets, it in no way undid all the team's previous achievements, which left a lot of vivid impressions.
And the pill from the Iberians tasted bitter not only because of the strength and skill of the opponent. On the eve of the match, our coaching staff noted the lack of recovery of the team, which was squeezed into the time frame between games. In the end, no miracle happened. This factor, according to Ruslan Rotan and many experts, was almost decisive in the match at Stiaua.
"I think the guys lacked recovery. We didn't say anything, we didn't want any excuses, but the game in two thirds, the way we got there, the fact that we sat in some kind of doghouse at the airport - we were detained for five hours, we spent half a day arriving in Bucharest. You probably saw that the guys wanted to, but their legs didn't run. Recovery plays a key role, so it really affected the result.
...If we had at least another 24 hours to recover, I would have bet on how this match would have ended. But believe me, it is very, very difficult. I saw how difficult it was for the guys on the football field, so I honestly give them a lot of respect - they deserved really more. But we have to accept this result as it is," the Ukrainian coach summed up at the post-match press conference (Sportarena.com, 06.07.23).
The Ukrainian national team played its quarter-final match a day later than Spain, and also played in another city - Cluj-Napoca. The Spaniards played all their matches in Bucharest. However, the journey to the game itself was critically vulnerable.
"Ukraine's match against France ended around 00:00 (from the second to the third of July), and at 19:40 the blue and yellow team was scheduled to fly from Cluj-Napoca to Bucharest. However, the flight was delayed by almost three hours - the team took off only at 22:24 and landed in Bucharest at 22:57.
In less than three days, Ukraine played two matches, moved from one city to another, and was forced to spend five hours in the airport waiting room. The Spanish national team finished their match on Sunday, 2 July, at 00:30. The Spaniards played this match in Bucharest, meaning they didn't move anywhere. They had almost four days of rest between the matches," Suspilne.media correspondent Yevhen Moroz (06.07.23) quoted disappointing figures.
However, even under such conditions, Rotan's team remained true to itself. They played forward and tried to act from a position of strength. However, the opponent in this game was much more experienced and skilful. Plus, he undoubtedly took into account the "lessons of French" and was as serious as possible. And the missed goal only made the Spaniards angry.
"The match turned out to be as spectacular as possible - the way a youth tournament semi-final should be. I would like to emphasise that this was only possible thanks to the efforts of both teams. Ukraine allowed the opponent a lot, but also breathed at the top of its lungs, going on the attack with great force every now and then, demonstrating attractive football. But Spain is simply stronger, and sensations do not happen as often as we would like.
The final big score is unfair to us. Spain was not that much stronger. Instead, its implementation was impressive: only three dangerous attacks out of eight did not result in goals. Ukraine, on the other hand, "played up" just for their only goal.
"Yesterday we were hurt - we were beaten badly, that's a fact. It was a shame, because everything started so well and even on the back of the winning quarter-final. But we were never ashamed, not even a little bit. We played as well as we could. But we played without suffering. Well, there is room to grow. And we can start forgetting about the numbers. They have gone down in history," Ihor Yurych analyses the game on the pages of Ua-football.com (06.07.23).
"Even in this match, we were only slightly inferior to our opponent in terms of ball possession and made fewer passes. That is, we played in our own style and that's great.
Let's not sprinkle ashes on our heads. Apart from the failed second half of the semi-final match, the European Championship was a success. Ruslan Rotan and his coaching staff are doing a great job and it's worth celebrating. So far, everything is not so smooth, but systemic changes are not implemented quickly, they are a gradual process, so thanks for the Euro, guys, it was cool, and now we are waiting for new victories!" - agrees with his colleague Roman Kotlyar from Football.ua (07.07.23).
Undoubtedly, Ukraine finished the tournament with a lot of vivid impressions. And for this tournament, the team deserves maximum gratitude, not humiliation and scolding for the last result. The media are frank - almost none of them seriously predicted our team's progress to the semi-finals. Even getting out of the group would have been considered a great success, and qualifying for the Olympic Games would have been the ultimate goal. Now, a year from now, in Paris, the Ukrainian community will be able to cheer on their football team for the first time at such a sporting event, gaining additional hope for the best in difficult times for the country.
"Ukraine's youth national team has reached the Euro semi-finals, won the right to play at the Olympics for the first time in history and become a champion of Ukrainians' hearts. Although it may sound strange now, we have memories not like aquarium fish. You can't hold this trophy in your hands, take a beautiful photo with it or put it on your pillow, as footballers often do with trophies they win.
But this is something much more valuable and we need it right now. It was so nice to see the social media feeds after the victory over France - joy and pride for the team instead of internal bickering and disturbing news about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Yes, the team didn't always play reliably in defence, but they did so without fear and with heart.
Let this defeat be a painful but useful lesson for the future. It is not enough to have bright individuals on the field. Such matches are won by the best team. In the end, the spectators at the stadium saw the team off with chants of "Ukraine! Ukraine". And this is priceless," summarises Iryna Kozyupa (Ua.tribuna.com, 06.07.23).
TO THE OLYMPICS - WITH A ROTAN
In the end, the trophy was won by England, who defeated the offenders of the Blue and Yellows in the final with a minimum result. The champions' winger Anthony Gordon was named the best player of Euro 2023 (U-21). And Georgii Sudakov, along with the Spaniards Abel Ruiz and Sergio Gomez, became the best sniper (3 goals) of the tournament.
Ruslan Rotan also received his award. She "found" our hero coach shortly after the fateful victory over the French. This is a logical response to media inquiries about who will lead the national team during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Thus, after the European Championships, the youth team will acquire the status of an Olympic team and will compete at the Games under the leadership of Ruslan Rotan. However, according to the regulations, only players born after 1 January 2001 will be able to take part. And each team can include only three players older than this age in the application of 18 players. However, the coaching staff will have plenty of old friends in Paris.
"I am glad that Rotan will be able to count on a large group of players from the current youth team with their already serious international experience. This is a great "trump card" and if we are lucky enough to make quality recruitment, our national team, now Olympic, will be in the spotlight again," predicts Zbirna.com (09.07.23).
As for the future of the youth national team, the next Euro 2025 (U-21), in the qualification for which our rivals are England, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, will be played by a new team from September 2023. These are players born in 2002 and younger with a new coaching staff.
FROM THE EUROS TO THE EUROPEAN CUPS
Last week, UPL clubs also got into full swing. The participants of the European Cups shared photos of particularly intense training sessions. Some of them are accelerating their preparations due to an early start in the qualifying stages of continental competitions.
"Dnipro-1 and Vorskla will play their first Champions League and Conference League qualifiers on 25 and 27 July, respectively. Dnipro will face the famous Greek Panathinaikos, while Poltava will try to get past the winner of the DAK-1904 (Slovakia) - Dila (Georgia) match.
However, while Viktor Skrypnyk's team's game practice so far consists of only two sparring matches, Oleksandr Kucher's wards have played four control matches. All of them ended in victories for the silver medallist with a total score of 14:1. However, three of the four opponents were juniors.
"Zorya will find out their opponent in the 3rd round of the Europa League qualifiers only in August, while Shakhtar will start their journey straight away in the Champions League group stage. Therefore, both teams are just finding their competitive rhythm. Instead, the seven-day saga ended with the transfer of Luhansk coach Patrick van Leeuwen to the Pitmen's coaching staff, replacing the sacked Igor Jovicevic. The press is building different versions of the unexpected replacement. At the same time, the clubs prefer not to take the rubbish out of the house.
"The key was what many people told me: "This club is in your blood". I have a very good connection with Shakhtar. It was one of my best decisions to leave the Netherlands and move to Ukraine to work at Shakhtar Donetsk, to take part in the club's growth at a time when there is a lot of ambition, a lot of opportunities to become a leading European team. It was a great pleasure to come back. And when such an opportunity arises, it's not something you think about much," said the Dutch specialist, who worked as the coordinator and director of the Donetsk club's Academy in 2006-2013.
And Zorya was headed by Serbian specialist Nenad Lalatovic, who during his professional career played for... Shakhtar. The defender played for the Pitmen from 2003 to 2005 with a one-year loan break to German side Wolfsburg. He played 24 matches for the Donetsk team and became the champion of Ukraine in the 2003/04 season.
"I think I showed my love when I came to Ukraine in this difficult time. When I was invited to join the team, I had no doubts and was not afraid of the war. I came here to be with you in such a difficult moment. As long as I am here and when I leave, I will always be with you. I hope that this terrible war will end soon. And that the Ukrainian people, whom I love and appreciate, deserve to live better than they did before.
My great wish is for Zorya to play their home games in their hometown, Luhansk. Just like Shakhtar in Donetsk. I would really like all Ukrainian teams to play in their own stadiums. Like when I used to play in the Ukrainian championship in 2004. I want them to come back. This is my big wish. I hope that I will bring good luck to make it come true," commented Lalatovic on his appointment (Ua.tribuna.com, 04.07.23).
However, Dynamo continues to receive the most press. In the current off-season, the Kyiv team has been notable for both high-profile transfers and results on the football field. Interestingly, the majority of the White and Blues' transfers have been "outbound", but at the same time, all transfer stories end "beautifully". This is the epithet the media used to describe Andriy Yarmolenko's return, and this is how goalkeeper Denys Boyko said goodbye.
"It's time to say goodbye to my home club! But only goodbye... I was born in Kyiv, my dad played for Dynamo Kyiv, I was brought up on the traditions and love of this great club, so the name Dynamo Kyiv will be engraved in my heart forever, in big letters!
I would like to sincerely thank all the teammates and coaches I have worked with during this period! And also to all the club staff who helped me every day at the base and beyond! I am also extremely grateful to the club president for everything he has done for me throughout my career at Dynamo! Special thanks to our fans who supported us both in times of victory and in difficult times of defeat! You are our strength!
But the most important words of gratitude and a low bow to our Defenders, who are defending our country from the s@#%ing orcs! Thanks to you, we can now do what we love! Glory to Ukraine!
P.S. I am forever a fan of Dynamo Kyiv!" the goalkeeper, who will continue his career in the ranks of the UPL newcomer Polissya, wrote words of gratitude on his Instagram page (05.07.23).
As you know, Kyiv will play in the Conference League for the first time. Dynamo will start their journey in this European competition in mid-August with the third qualifying round. Nevertheless, Mircea Lucescu is already trying to raise the game tone of his wards. And the team's results are impressive: in three sparring matches, they defeated Dinamo Bucharest (4-0), Wolfberg Austria (8-0) and Triglav Slovenia (9-0). It is interesting that the captain of the Ukrainian national team, Andriy Yarmolenko, took part in two of these matches, scoring three goals and two assists.
"Such an experienced player as Yarmolenko is needed by the current Dynamo Kyiv. Andriy will be a kind of "uncle" in this team, a link between the players and the head coach. In addition, I think Yarmolenko will strengthen the game of the White and Blues, and there will be a lot of benefits from his return. In any case, I'm happy with this decision of Andriy and Dynamo.
As for Mircea Lucescu, he has a valid contract with Dynamo and he wants to work. God bless him with health. The Lucescu-Shovkovsky tandem will be interesting in the new season. Dynamo has a lot of trips and workload ahead of them, so the coaches will complement each other. After an unsuccessful last season, there is hope that the White and Blues will perform much better next season. "Lucescu is integrating more and more youngsters into the first team, and this is very good. I believe that last season was a transitional season for Dynamo, and now we can expect a rise," predicts the famous Ukrainian coach Yuriy Virt (Footboom1.com, 05.07.23).
"DYNAMO FIGHTS BACK
To date, Dynamo Kyiv have perhaps demonstrated the greatest stability in their preparations for the new season. Transfers and the introduction of young players to the first team are going according to the directions set by the management and coaching staff, there is full understanding between the coaches, and the players are pleased with their bright victories.
In addition, Dynamo continues to do its utmost to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine, regularly sending useful goods to the front line to meet the urgent needs of our military. It also keeps its finger on the political and football pulse.
Thus, the Kyiv club was the first to respond to the participation of one of the most famous clubs in Europe, Turkish Fenerbahce, in a tournament on the territory of the aggressor country. Once again reminding the world community that football in Russia has always been used as a propaganda tool for the local criminal regime, and the money of terrorist sponsors is soaked in the blood of innocent people.
"When the fans in Istanbul chanted the name of the killer country and came to the match against Dynamo wearing masks of Europe's main sadist, your club was silent.
Now it's clear why.
Gazprom's bloody money has overshadowed everything, left you without honour and conscience. Russian missiles are killing Ukrainians every day, the entire civilised world is united against aggression and mass murder, and your club accepts bloody handouts from the sponsors of terrorism.
UEFA and FIFA are banning Russian clubs from international tournaments, and you are touring them to make money and play along with the aggressor.
Nothing can justify this step. No amount of money can compensate you for this shameful behaviour, this trip to murderers without morals and human qualities.
We are not afraid to say to the whole world: you are helping the murderers to continue the bloody harvest on Ukrainian soil. You are playing along and legitimising the main evil of the 21st century.
Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü - no honour, no shame, no conscience! Shame on you!" reads Dynamo's appeal to the Istanbul giants (Fcdynamo.com, 08.07.23).
But, of course, the main arguments to the aggressor are presented by the glorious Armed Forces of Ukraine on the battlefield. Thanks to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers, competitions were held in all professional leagues and the calendar for the next season has already been formed. And it is only thanks to them that we were able to watch the triumph of our young talents, who are yet to glorify Ukraine on the peaceful football fields of Europe and the world.
Orest LELEKA
