Former Ukraine midfielder Oleh Shelayev told us what he expects from the Ukrainian national team's match against Italy, which will take place today in Leverkusen, Germany.
Oleg Shelayev"We have several trump cards in the game against the Italians"
- Oleg, what do you personally expect from our national team's match against the Italians?
- Positive emotions. An interesting game and a victory. Everything is at stake in terms of going directly to Euro 2024. In my opinion, the game will be very cautious on both sides. The teams will be waiting for their chance - for the opponent's mistakes.
- Did you watch the match before the Italian national team against Northern Macedonia?
- I watched it, got acquainted. Before that, I watched their entire match against England. Of course, also our meeting with the Italians. Everyone understands the strength of Italy, as well as their tactical skill. They can adapt well to the opponent's game. In general, the Italians are a very uncomfortable opponent for us, judging by the games we have played with them.
- People say that Italy plays a different kind of football now. Spalletti is setting his players up to play more attacking football. Do you agree?
- Yes, I do. They prefer the Dutch 4-3-3 model. But the defensive qualities of the Italians remain the same. By adding aggression in attack, this Italy is now getting an extra trump card in the game.
- With the way the Italians are playing, what is our main trump card?
- We will have several trump cards in the game with them. Firstly, we didn't play a tense qualifying game like they did on the eve of this match, I don't count the friendly with Polish Lechia. Secondly, almost all of our players who play abroad arrived at our team's location in a great mood and in good shape. They scored goals in their respective leagues and look good. This is an additional impetus for us.
When 4-5 players come to the national team in a great game tone, and add to that Shakhtar's players, who are also on a high after the game with Barcelona, it is only a plus. Therefore, there is confidence, which is also accompanied by motivation. I think that the coaching staff should also have some home preparations for this opponent.
"There were questions about all the games the national team played under Rebrov"
- What new things can be noted in the game of our national team with the arrival of Serhii Rebrov? How do you think it is playing now?
- To be honest, there were questions about all the games our national team played under Rebrov. Either we play the first half of the match better than the second, or vice versa. That is, the team did not have a coherent game for the entire ninety minutes. We have not seen any new features in the national team's game at the moment either.
- What do you think of the national team?
- Up front, the national team has no alternative to Dovbyk. In the centre of midfield, we see that Sudakov is definitely the main player. And then the coaches are already looking at who he interacts better with. So far, it's definitely Stepanenko.
- What about the wings?
- Tsygankov and Mudryk plus Zubkov, whose game suits Rebrov and he gives him a lot of playing time. They should have a good understanding since the days of Ferencvaros.
In general, we can see that the attacking link of our national team is more stable, so there are players in it whose candidacies do not raise questions.
But the same cannot be said about the defence. Therefore, there are various options that are being tested and worked out. There is Konoplya, Tymchyk, Matvienko, who can play on the left. Now Dubinchak has also arrived. The coaches will look at him and determine his current form.
- Trubin or Bushchan?
- Well, here I give everything to the coaches who work with goalkeepers in the national team. Both Trubin and Bushchan are high-class players. Let the one who is the best at the moment take the place in goal.
"History is being rewritten, and we will beat the Italians"
- Is it a plus or a minus that this crucial match for our national team will take place in Germany?
- This is neither a plus nor a minus. It is a given and a reality that we must accept. However, we have already adapted to the fact that we play home matches in some other country. Unfortunately.
- But Germany, if you look back, is the country where we lost to Italy in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2006, where you were a direct participant in that match.
- So what? This is history being rewritten. Everything has to come to an end. Of course, the fact that we have never beaten the Italian national team puts pressure on the team's players. All the experts talked about this before the first game with the Italians.
For some reason, Italy is an inconvenient team for us. In different years, our players have beaten the French, the British, even the Spaniards, although they cited unpleasant statistics before those matches.
All this will pass, and you'll see, we'll beat the Italians too. I hope that next Monday.
- You played in four of the nine games that the Ukrainian national team has played against the Italian national team. How do you feel when you play against the Italians?
- In addition to the skill that the Italians have, their tactical training was striking. The players know well how to position themselves, what place and distance to occupy on the field, in different phases of the game. They do all this very skilfully. And they always play with a cool head.
"Pirlo saw the game two or three moves ahead, so it was useless to run to him"
- What do you remember from the matches you played with the Italians? What was interesting?
- I remember the evil face of Gattuso. He stepped on the pitch with a grin and left it with the same grin. Genaro went as if to a battle. Totti and Pirlo - they came out like some actors, with beautiful hairstyles, their hair was styled with gel .
- Which of the Italians gave you the most trouble in the games?
- I'd like to mention the game of Pirlo, who played by touch and you couldn't get close to him. He saw the game two or three moves ahead, so it was useless to run to him - another Italian player already had the ball.
- You had to play against such stars as Buffon, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Inzaghi, Toni. Are there no such names in the Italian national team now?
- There may not be any names, but they are hungry to play, because for many of them this is just the beginning of their playing career. All of them started out as unknowns - Pirlo, Nesta, Gattuso. They also came to the Italian national team and everyone asked: "Who is this?" Perhaps in a few years we will be able to say about the current players that they are great masters.
- I can't help but ask about another match with the Italians in 2007. The situation was almost the same as it is now. Do you remember when you lost to Italy in Kyiv and lost your chances to make it to Euro 2008?
- Yes, I do. It was a head-to-head game with the Italians. They came to Kyiv and they had to not lose. They played like that. Everyone was standing behind them, covering the areas. They have "catenaccio" in their blood - defensive football, which gives them the right to play for the result. In my opinion, we played the first half 0-0 (0-1, Di Natale scored in the 41st minute - ed.) Everything was decided after the break. They caught us twice and scored. I remember Shevchenko scored his goal against the Italians back then.
"I will be with the boys - the twelfth player"
- Where will you watch the current match with Italy, in what company?
- Probably at home. The time of the game is very late, and we have a curfew in our country.
- What would you say to our national team now?
- The main thing is not to lose the ball in their own half of the field. We did our best and showed our best result. Let the guys know that there will not be 11 of them on the field. I will be the twelfth player with them. I will watch and worry.
- What would you personally wish Serhii Rebrov?
- To work hard and do his job. As for the game itself, it's important to see any weaknesses in the opponent's game in time and take advantage of them.
- What is your prediction for the outcome of the match?
- We'll win 1-0, but the game itself won't be great.
- We'll be fine with that!
Alexander Petrov
