On Saturday, 9 September, the Ukrainian national team will play a Euro 2024 qualifying match against England. The match is nominally a home game for the Ukrainian national team, but due to the war will be held in Wroclaw, Poland. A day before the game, a pre-match press conference of the England head coach Gareth Southgate was held at the Tarczynski Arena stadium, which will host this meeting.
Gareth Southgate. Photo - A.Popov- Of course, we realise that there are tens of thousands of Ukrainians living here in Wroclaw who had to flee the war in Ukraine. We understand how emotional tomorrow's match can be, but we must concentrate on the game and put all emotions aside. Because we came here to play football.
-Compare the current Ukraine national team and the one that England played with at Euro 2020.
- Both the current Ukraine national team are very dangerous teams. Very organised, well controlling the ball and very dangerous in counter-attacking. Tomorrow we will face a really organised team. So we will have to play extremely organised and do everything to neutralise the midfield players of the Ukraine national team, who are very important for this team.
- You will play against the national team of the country where there is a war. How much can it affect the game?
- We understand the circumstances in which we will play. We respect the players of the Ukrainian national team, many of whom play in the APL. It is indeed a difficult emotional situation for us as well. Nevertheless, tomorrow both teams will play football.
- Do you remember how you played against the Ukraine national team in 2000?
- Yes, Andriy Shevchenko, one of the best strikers of that time, played for Ukraine. It was difficult to oppose him. That match was quite difficult, I remember it well. But tomorrow we will play our own game and strive to get the winning result.
Alexander POPOV from Wroclaw
