Before the Euro 2024 qualifying match against Northern Macedonia, Ukraine midfielder Serhiy Sydorchuk gave an interview to the UAF press service.
Photo: uaf.ua- You first came to the national team not from Dynamo Kyiv, but from Belgian side Westerlo. How have you settled in at the new club?
- Not very well yet, because not enough time has passed. The first week was hard because I had to adapt to everything. Everything is new. It was very difficult at the domestic level, because for the first two weeks I lived alone, and then my family moved in, and it became much better. As for joining the national team from Westerlo, it's a bit unusual, because for 10 years I came from one team, and now - from another. But meetings with the guys are all the more valuable. We hadn't seen each other for a month, I missed them a bit, especially my Dynamo teammates.
- Now the national team holds each training camp in a new place. How do you like the conditions of the current training camp?
- The conditions are normal. The stadium in Prague is interesting. In general, the conditions are good, the training field is in good condition. However, it has suddenly become quite cool, but that's the weather. It happens.
- Did you have any conversation with Serhii Rebrov about your readiness for the match?
- No, I didn't have a personal conversation. I think this will happen in the training process. I always communicate with Rebrov. Both at the household level and at the professional level. Now he is looking at the players' conditions, and closer to the match, there will probably be some individual conversations.
- How would you assess the result and performance of the national team in the previous two matches - against the English and Italians?
- It is difficult to give adequate assessments when you are in the process. I won't evaluate anyone individually, it's up to the coaches. As for the team game, I think we performed well. It was a very difficult match with Italy. The Italians have just changed their head coach, and it was a positive moment for them psychologically. Plus, the start of the match was bad - such unnecessary goals... Despite this, for me, there were more positives than negatives in these meetings.
- Ahead are the matches with North Macedonia and Malta. Is it necessary to take six points from them?
- Of course, of course. But you should remember how we played them at the beginning of the summer. It was very difficult, because I cannot name a single team that cannot play modern football now. Everyone has improved, and this is no longer the qualifying cycle that it could have been six or eight years ago. It's getting harder and harder every year. There is more and more information about football, tactics, and the training process. And players from small countries are learning from the example of the whole of Europe. They see how to progress.
As for North Macedonia, everyone remembers how we started the first half in the last match with them. It was very difficult. It was the same with Malta. If you don't score a quick ball, if you don't score in the first half, then it becomes more and more difficult to play over time. But we need these points. We need nine points in general if we want to talk about qualifying for the European Championships.
- Did the Macedonians surprise you in that first half?
- I think they surprised themselves a bit. They had fears of Ukraine. But when they scored those goals, it became clear that they were becoming more confident with every action. They didn't come out on the pitch as confident as they had become over time in that game.
- You have three goals for Ukraine, and one of them was against North Macedonia. Do you remember that goal and your emotions?
- I remember it very well. We played at the Lviv Arena, it was my first match in the main team. I don't remember exactly, but someone said that life is measured not by the number of years you have lived, but by the number of pleasant memories. I remember that match, and I have pleasant memories of it. How did you score? The ball bounced off Andriy Yarmolenko, and I was in the penalty area right next to the goal, very close, so I made no mistake. I was very happy, especially as it was the winning goal.
- At that time, Arena Lviv was packed to the brim, and that's what we really missed. Do you feel support at our nominally home games now?
- The last such match, in Wroclaw against England, was really like a home match for me. There were a lot of our fans there. It's nice to play in such an atmosphere. This match reminded me a bit of matches at the Lviv Arena or the Olimpiyskiy. God willing, it will be the same in Prague.
- For the next two matches, we lost Viktor Tsygankov and Andriy Yarmolenko due to injuries. How big a loss is it, and how can we compensate for it?
- This is a very serious loss. Andrii is the team captain, and Viktor has been playing at a very high level for the last year. I don't want to compare them with anyone or predict who can play in their place. I'll just say it's a big loss, that's all.
