Well-known manager and expert Vyacheslav Zakhovailo shared his thoughts on the Euro 2024 qualifying match Italy vs Ukraine (2:1), which took place yesterday in Milan.
"The Ukraine national team did not have a good game in the first 30 minutes. Italians opened up our flanks, playing very wide. They doubled the flank by running in the edge defenders.
On top of that, we were losing rebounds at our goal. Our players in the centre of midfield were in the role of statisticians in the first minutes of the match. They stood like under a bridge, the ball just flew over them.
To be honest, I expected a different structure from Rebrov, namely the game in five defenders. This would have blocked the space on the flanks, forcing Italy to open up our defence through the support zone. In my opinion, this would have increased our chances. Sergei Stanislavovich chose a different game plan. In principle, the second half confirmed his concept, the game was equalised. It's a pity, we could have clung on....
I hope and I am sure that conclusions will be drawn," - wrote Zakhovailo on his page on Facebook.