The past week has added a significant dose of positivity to the country's football and everyday life thanks to the success of national teams in European qualifying cycles. The media pay tribute to the players, but note that they will face decisive tests in the next month.
Not for adults
In four days, the main team had to work out a mandatory programme of two matches with rivals at the bottom of the C quintet table in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Serhii Rebrov's boys passed the first test with flying colours, scoring two unanswered goals against North Macedonia.
The second test looked much easier on paper. After all, the 171st-ranked Malta national team in the FIFA rankings, which Ukraine was 147 positions ahead of, had to be put on the back foot.
However, the press and experts had some concerns about the confrontation on 17 October in Ta'Ali. Even though the islanders have not yet been memorable in the current qualifiers, have not scored a single point, and lost their previous match away to Italy with a score of 0:4.
The media also recalled the result of the first duel with the Maltese (1-0) in Trnava, which the Blue and Yellows decided in their favour only in the middle of the second half thanks to a penalty kick by Viktor Tsygankov. At that time, the opponent acted quite openly and created enough chances. This was also emphasised by Serhii Rebrov on the eve of the away game.
"We have to be very focused - there is an important game ahead. As important as the one with North Macedonia. I am sure all the players understand what the match will be like. It will be difficult, just like in Slovakia.That'swhy we are preparing very seriously," the coach assured (Football.ua, 17.10.23).
The general statistics of the qualifiers, according to which our national team played the second match of the doubles worse, also did not favour the Ukrainians. It is worth mentioning only the draw against England, and then the defeat by Italy in the previous rounds of the current qualifiers.
However, according to the general opinion of the media, this time we faced the wrong opponent, on whom Rebrov's team could have stumbled even in the presence of certain negative factors.
"We're going for another three points, and no prejudice, along with meaningless speeches about how Maltese football is on the rise! Sorry, but wolves are not to be feared, especially in this case, we are talking about wolf cubs or puppies who howl and bark at the passing caravan of big football. But who we are in this world is up to us to decide. Despite all sorts of prejudices.
...I am in no way calling for underestimating our national team's next opponent. Rather, I am simply emphasising the obvious - we must take these three points if we respect ourselves. Otherwise, there are no excuses and the usual fan chorus of 'shame'and so on," said well-known Ukrainian journalist Artem Frankov (Bookmaker-ratings.com.ua, 17.10.23).
"Themain thing is not to pay attention to what they will write and say - 'you can't relax', 'Malta is a good team', etc.This is all talk for the U-9s, and we have an adult team. Our coaches and players understand that the game against Malta is a must-win.
There will be no underestimation of the opponent. The main thing is to avoid overestimation, because the result can be overwhelming. Our team is stronger and more skilful, and Ukraine will just have to come out and get a result. If we don't beat Malta, the game against Italy will turninto nothing," said Yurii Klytvintsev, the former manager of the 2009 U-19 European champions and current head coach of Polissia. (Ukrfootball.ua, 14.10.23).
With faith in Rebrov's project
According to all the optimistic forecasts, the Ukrainian national team ended the October international training camp with two victories on its own account. Serhii Rebrov's team fulfilled the main task - a 3-1 victory over Malta in the penultimate match of the Euro 2024 qualifiers closed the collection of six desired points before the next international break.
However, the success in the match against the underdog was not easy, although a significant number of fans and journalists expected the opposite. But this sometimes happens when the tournament schedules allow one team to play in an arbitrary style, while the other has to solve fateful tasks.
"TheMaltese national team did not claim anything before the start of the competition. But this, paradoxically, is the danger from the Maltese - not burdened with a tournament task, they simply had nothing to lose. The qualifying tournament for the Maltese team is already the Euros, and each victory in this competition was of a European scale for them.Thehosts would be happy to get at least the first point in the qualifying tournament," says Volodymyr Starinsky, author of the portal Bolel-ik.com.ua (18.10.23 ).
Nevertheless, it is natural that despite the positive result, the media and experts had some questions about this victory. There is criticism of the game on their part, but there is also a conscious understanding of the overall achievement.
"This isnot exactly how we imagined the match against the outsider of the group, which in this qualification did not create any special problems for anyone except our team, and created them twice for ours.
In general, based on the results of yesterday's game, you can either be upset that the victory was quite difficult and nervous, or rejoice in the important points that we managed not to lose. But the final, decisive matches of the qualifying tournament are like penalties: the main thing is that after the kick the ball ends up in the goal.The ball is in the net, the table is plus three, Serhii Rebrov's team is in second place - weare moving on," states Mykhailo Tsiruk on Khsport.ua (18.10.23).
No one denies that there was a certain amount of luck involved when the Ukrainian national team equalised. But this is still the merit of the team, which reacted correctly to the local setback, attacked a lot and wanted not only to get back at them, but also to win this match at all costs. That's why our guys deserved to win, and the final score was in favour of the Ukrainians in terms of class.
"We have tough matches with everyone, not just Malta. We knew how Malta would play defensively. We were preparing and knew that there would be a strong defence. Yes, we conceded the first goal, but it was a very deserved victory - I thanked the guys. All matches at the national team level are very difficult. In this match, the result came first.
Malta had nothing to lose, they tried to attack. Even when they played us for the first time, they tried to attack. It was important for us to concentrate, to find a balance in attack and defence. Unfortunately, in the first half we didn't have that, but in the second half it was a different game," Serhii Rebrov said in his post-match commentary for Suspilne Sport (18.10.23).
I am glad that the national team is now forming a team of like-minded people. The coaches are ready to protect the players under any circumstances, and the players pay their coaches in the same way. A common team philosophy is also noticeable.
"There are matches when we don't show the game that is expected of us. But I have never seen the guys go out with their hands down or not wanting to win. On the football field, something can go wrong, for example, our missed goal against Malta. So the main thing is to follow the coach's instructions. If we follow them, then at the end of the match we always get the right result," Oleksandr Karavayev, defender of the national team and Dynamo Kyiv, adds to his coach (Uaf.ua, 18.10.23).
Yes, it is victories, even if they are unadorned, that are the most important thing now. After all, the team is undergoing a restructuring on the march. Not so long ago, the manager changed, and the players, as well as the coaching staff, need to adapt to the new conditions and requirements. That's why it's hard to get into the game in a short period of time. And that's why the scoreboard at the Anton Malatynski Arena last Tuesday was excellent.
"Ijust want to remind you that: a) even before the start of the selection, many people said that they would have to sacrifice it - and Ukraine really fought to the last; b) Rebrov took the team almost in a disassembled state - and collected the maximum possible points; c) we have never gone anywhere before with two competitors of this level - and have you forgotten the conditions in which this team plays?
Therefore, gentlemen critics, as they say in Odesa, we are sitting on our bum. No sudden movements. And we thank God that we still have football and we still win.At least against Malta," Ihor Yurych said on the electronic pages of Ua-football.com (18.10.23).
Despite the shortcomings in the game, the domestic media still believe in Rebrov's project. Journalists overwhelmingly believe that his football is a systematic story. The team may not succeed, but when there is a good foundation, there are opportunities for growth. This national team is built on the right principles and is able to progress qualitatively.
"Thefate of the second ticket from our group to Euro 2024 will be decided in a face-to-face confrontation between Ukraine and Italy, in which we will need to win (if the Italians defeat the Macedonians).
We have neither the slightest opportunity nor the slightest desire to look ahead now. There is still a whole month ahead, anything can happen. However, I want to believe that the Ukrainian national team will prepare for the decisive - in any case - qualifying match accordingly. So that neither I nor anyone else will have even the slightest opportunity to throw stones in its garden. And for the October cycle, thank you to the Blue and Yellows," says Valerii Vasylenko of Sport.ua (18.10.23).
A miracle from the youth
The October international pause took place not only to the accompaniment of confrontations between national teams at the highest level. The U-21s also determined the strongest in their subgroups for the 2025 European Championships to be held in Slovakia.
In the qualifiers, the Ukrainian U-21 team was placed in Sectet F, where England was the clear favourite at the time of the draw. While Northern Ireland, Serbia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan were supposed to prevent Unai Melhosa's boys from gaining precious points.
"TheIslanders and Dukes failed in their first two attempts - the Blue and Yellows beat them 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, but our third opponent was the reigning European champions and it was a really serious challenge. Lee Carsley led a phenomenal team to the first major trophy in his personal coaching career last summer, but, as in our case, a large number of players stepped up in age, so now he had to get used to the new generation. But the Three Lions started with even more confident victories than we did, defeating Luxembourg with the same score and crushing Serbia (9-1)," Football.ua recalled on the eve of the match in Kosice, Slovakia (16.10.23).
It is not surprising that the Ukrainian football community was looking forward to the meeting with the British with serious excitement. The media were worried not so much about the result as about a decent performance by the Blue and Yellows. But they put the sceptics to shame and played an extremely spectacular match with a happy ending against the strongest team in European youth football.
"No soonerhad we moved on from the fantastic performance of the Ukrainian national team at Euro 2023 than in a few months we were pleased with the new generation of the U-21 team. The victory over England (3-2) in the qualification for the next continental championship in 2025 certainly stands out among all the others.
Firstly, we beat the English for the first time in history in this age group, and secondly, if you look at the names of the players who were defeated by Unai Melgosa's team, the level of pride in our young people will be even higher, and thirdly, three points in the confrontation with the group favourite is a serious bid for at least second place, although it is too early to talk about tournament prospects, of course, because we have two more games with Serbia, which will most likely decide our fate in this qualification, "Mykhailo Tsiruk said on Khsport.ua (19.10.23).
The press and experts agree that the Ukrainian coach managed to fulfil perhaps his most important task before such a game, namely, he tamed the fear of his players and showed them the way to victory. He convinced them that if they followed his instructions, they would be able to achieve a positive result. A good game plan is half the battle. And when Ukraine went into the break with a 2-0 lead in their favour, there was no thought that it was somehow undeserved. Although there were still fears about the second half, and they were partly justified, as England equalised at the end of normal time.
"At that moment, I thought that a draw is also good, but it still needs tobe held.And there's no need to look for 'betrayal' here, because even the author of the winning goal, Ilya Kvasnytsia, admitted that he didn't believe in victory at the time. However, despite such feelings, our team pushed forward and the Rukh player scored a goal of incredible beauty. You know yourself that in 99% of cases, when the score was 2-2 against England in the 90th minute, any of our teams would have gone into a defensive stance. But yesterday was exactly that one per cent. "The Blue and Yellows went ahead and hit the jackpot. Yes, there is still a certain lack of confidence in their own strengths and abilities, but there is no fear of big-name opponents. And this means that this generation of the Ukrainian national team is capable of greatthings," hopes Igor Tsvyk, editor-in-chief of Sportanalytic.com (17.10.23 ).
And it's not just about the results on the field. The crown of Melhosa's work as head coach of Ukraine U-21 should be the gradual transition of players from the youth team to the national team. So far, this has not happened, but the coach stressed that it could happen at any time.
"We had different conversations with Rebrov. This project starts from the national team, from his personality. We try to follow the instructions he gives us and his advice. We are in contact because some players from the youth team can instantly move to the national team. Therefore, you have to be ready to fulfil the requirements of the head coach," Suspilne.media quoted the Spanish specialist as saying (16.10.23).
Even before starting work, Serhii Rebrov immediately stressed that there would be one systematic approach - in the main team, in the youth team, and in all others. It is quite right. After all, when he himself got to Valeriy Lobanovsky's Dynamo, the second team and the first team of Kyiv worked at the same level. The system, training and basic exercises were the same. And Lobanovskyi controlled the entire workflow of all teams.
"That's exactly what happenedwhen I joined Dynamo," recalls Serhii Kovalets, the former coach of the Ukrainian youth national team (Ua-football.com, 17.10.23). " In 1990, the main team won the championship, the backup team also took first place, and there was also a victory in the USSR Cup. The backup team was coached by Viktor Mikhailovich Kolotov, who was known for his fair attitude. At that time, I was just moving from the reserves to the first team, and I knew well what exercises I needed to do. And this is a normal process for all our clubs, if we are talking about the U-19s, U-21s and the first team."
"This is the right direction. So Serhii Rebrov is doing everything properly. He worked with Spanish specialists, so he is in full control of the process. Youth coach Unai Melgosa said as much. "In terms of tips, analysis, communication with the players, it was clear that the players of our youth team understand that if they prove themselves today in the U-21, then tomorrow they will be involved in the national team. This is exactly what motivation should be at the level of all national teams and in every club.The top of thepyramid is the national team, and everyone else is working for a single result," S. Kovalets sums up (Ua-football.com, 17.10.23).
In the next rounds remaining this year, the national team of Ukraine will face Luxembourg (17 November) and Azerbaijan (21 November). So, everything is in the hands of the Blue and Yellows to go on the winter break as the absolute leader of Sextet F.
Hopes for the boys
Unfortunately, the young men in the U-17 category were unable to support the victorious march of our national and youth teams this week.
After a productive draw with Finland (2:2) and a crushing victory over Liechtenstein (7:0), the Ukrainians met their peers from Germany in the status of Group 3 leader.
The situation was such that Volodymyr Yezerskyi's men were happy with a draw to reach the next stage. However, they failed to achieve it - the Germans scored shortly after the break and, thanks to this minimal victory, took first place in the quartet. The Finns finished second, as they had no problems in the match with the outsider (3-0).
Yes, there was no miracle, but there is a simple explanation.
"It'svery difficult to talk about any prospects for Yezersky's team in the first round of the Euro U-17 qualifiers. First of all, because the national team has never gathered in full strength. In the spring there was a selection camp for legionnaires, and in the autumn more for players from Ukraine. We can't talk about any kind of chemistry, because the team didn't fully prepare. There was only a pre-game training session before the qualifiers.
...In contrast, Germany and Finland had full training. The Finns have played more than 10 friendly matches this year alone. In Germany, selection for the national team has been going on since the age of 14. By U-17, it is already a formed and played team. Therefore, the Germans are the main favourites of our group," Football24.ua reveals the details (15.10.23).
However, nothing has been decided for the Blue and Yellows yet. We need to wait a few weeks for the mini-tournaments in the other groups to end. Among the third teams, the top five out of 13 will advance, and with one golden point and a goal difference of 2-3, Ukraine can claim one of the tickets to the elite qualifying rounds.
Shakhtar's high-profile news
At the club level, the number one event last week was the change of head coach in the camp of the reigning Ukrainian champion. "Shakhtar officially announced the termination of the contract with Patrick van Leeuwen and his coaching staff.
This came as a complete surprise to the media and, perhaps, to the Dutch coach himself, especially after the victory over Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League. The day before, the specialist led the team during a friendly match with Rukh (2-0), and on the day of his resignation he gave an interview to the club's channel, in which he spoke about the team's preparations for the next matches in the absence of national team players...
Nevertheless, Dario Srna, who previously served as the club's sporting director, was appointed acting head coach.
"Theday has come when we have to be honest and open, to be honest and fair to our fans, which, unfortunately, we failed to do.We failed to play the kind of football that the fans, the club president, and all of us need. We could not find a way to play Shakhtar football. And I can only say thank you to Patrick and the coaching staff for their good work, but we decided to go the other way.
...The president offered me two rounds ago to take the team immediately, become the head coach, sign a contract, choose the coaching staff. And he said he was ready to suffer with me. And I answered him: "President, I love this club, and I assure you that today I want to bring you a coach who is stronger than me, who is better than me, more experienced than me, and who can give the team more than me." And we are negotiating. And I hope that this coach will want to come to us," Srna said in an interview with the club's press service (Shakhtar.com, 20.10.23).
The first pancake for the newly minted coach did not go down well. In the 11th round of the UPL, his team beat LNZ 3-0. However, the real test of strength for both the Croatian and the Miners will come this Wednesday - in the next match of the main European competition against Barcelona.
Orest LELEKA
