Former Ukraine midfielder Yuriy Shelepnytskyy analysed yesterday's Euro-2024 qualifying match Malta - Ukraine (1:3).
- The tendency was confirmed again, when the second match in the paired cycle of selection is more difficult for the Ukrainian national team than the first one. And it is not easy to guess what the reason is - whether they do not have time to recover, or the mood is not right.... It is clear that Malta is not a top-level opponent, however, it is a very unpleasant team in terms of play, which sometimes is able to strive and give the result. There was nothing to expect in this game, and so it turned out. A very nervous match, which the Ukrainians planned to win at the expense of class, but everything turned out wrong.
- The starting line-up of the Ukraine national team did not surprise you?
- I expected Serhiy Rebrov to refresh 2-3 positions. First of all, the coach needed to solve the problem of Stepanenko's absence. Unfortunately, Vanat, to whom Rebrov entrusted a place in the starting line-up, was not noticeable at all. Dovbik in general did a lot of rough work - he worked with his body, fought for the ball, but the task of a centre-forward is different - to maximally aggravate the game at the other team's goal, and we did not see it.... I would like to note that Dovbik executed the penalty kick very uncertainly - he was lucky that it went into the net.
- Why did our team start the match so nervously - what was it in the first 15 minutes?
- Perhaps, we thought that we would start to rock gradually, taking into account a certain fatigue after a very intense match with the Macedonians. It seems to me that the "blue-yellow" planned to spend the starting segment calmly, to warm up, and then already to play with more power. But... The Maltese immediately gave the pace and scored! Fortunately, the second breath came to the Ukrainian national team, and here we demonstrated speed, pressing and pressure on the opponent's goal. Malta could not withstand, but we did not show a top game in the end.
- But it was probably not necessary for the Blue-Yellows to concede.... Is the goal on Matvienko's conscience?
- He not only lost in speed to his opponent in the scoring episode, but also did not enter the game at all. It happens... That's why Matvienko was replaced after the break. By the way, there was also a risk that he would get cards in such a state, and then the team would lose him for the key match with Italy.
- If to analyse in detail the three goals against Malta, all of them were the result of Mudryk's activity, who can certainly be called the player of the match....
- Mudryk took over the game and really wanted to score. Very often he, frankly speaking, pulled the blanket too much on himself. He was literally torn by the desire to succeed, but he did it in most cases on the veins - there was little ease. But in general, everything was right - Mikhail was diligently doing what a winger should do. And his goal is a masterpiece, a classic!
As for the player of the match, who else, except Mudryk, can be singled out. Nobody... Sudakov, like Matvienko, played this game without success. Zinchenko did not make any gross mistakes, but no more than that. Because of not the best football performed by Vanat actually did not work the right flank of the Ukraine national team. Therefore, only Mudryk - it was his match, his prey!
- There is still a whole month before the decisive match with Italy, but what can be taken into consideration now, what work plan can be outlined?
- We need to study the opponent now and throughout this month. Of course, we need to remember that this is the Italian national team - a very uncomfortable opponent for the Ukrainians, just look at the history of our meetings. The upcoming match with the Italians is comparable only to the recent meeting of youth teams of Ukraine and England. Such matches require a special mood. Undoubtedly, in a month a lot can happen - injuries and, on the contrary, recovery.
The physical condition of the players will also be important, because the Italian national team in November will have to play two matches of Euro-2024 selection in a row - two days later on the third (on the 17th - against North Macedonia and on the 20th of November - against Ukraine - author's note). Let's hope that the Macedonians will be able to create a surprise, and we will adjust physically and psychologically the way we should, and we will qualify for Euro 2024. In this context, I would like to summarise the game with Malta - it is the case when they say that the game is forgotten, but the result remains. The main thing is that we have a result!
Oleg Semenchenko