Myron Markevych, a well-known Ukrainian coach and current coach of Lviv's Karpaty, shared his expectations for the final round of the Euro 2024 qualifying round between Ukraine and Italy, which took place today in Leverkusen.
Myron Markevych. Photo - fckarpaty.org.ua"The players called up by Serhii Rebrov against Italy are really the best squad of the Ukrainian national team"
- I believe that Ukraine can beat Italy. Yes, it is a very good team, but not an insurmountable one. There is no need to be afraid of them. Moreover, our national team now has a lot of great players," Markevych began the conversation.
- "Regarding the squad and the players Serhii Rebrov called up for Italy. My colleagues and bloggers often criticise our coach, saying that they are the same faces.
- I will say this: almost all of our players who play in Europe have a full game practice. It has almost never happened that half of our national team consisted of legionnaires from the best European championships. And they don't just perform there, they play.
- Who among our players abroad particularly impresses you?
- I have great hope for Artem Dovbyk. He is showing very good form now, scoring constantly. And Viktor Tsygankov, although he was out of action for a while, should be in great shape for this week's national teams. But what can I say - Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykhailo Mudryk, Ilya Zabarnyi, Vitalii Mykolenko, all have excellent playing practice in England.
Psychologically, almost all of our legionnaires are on the rise, on a positive wave. This is a huge plus before such an important game. There are enough players in this team who can create very serious problems for Italy. And Mudryk is one of them.
- Mudryk either plays and scores masterpieces, like against Arsenal, or sits in the reserves again and comes on for 20 minutes at the end of the game. Is Mykhailo capable of taking the initiative in the national team and becoming one of the leaders?
- Every player must feel trusted by the head coach. When there is trust, the player feels completely different and plays accordingly.
Mauricio Pochettino, as we can see, began to trust Mudryk this season, and Mykhailo finally more or less played for Chelsea and started scoring. It became psychologically easier for him. I believe that Mudryk will show his full potential in the English Premier League.
- For example, Roman Yaremchuk has "forgotten" how to score, and we can't beat Italy without goals.
- Roman Yaremchuk is not showing a great game at Valencia right now, but he has experience.
- Our main "Italian" in the national team, Genoa midfielder Ruslan Malinowski, is also no longer the "fantasist" he was when he played for Atalanta. However, after there was a lot of talk about why Rebrov hadn't called him up, he is back in the national team.
- Malinowski is a player who has been tested over the years and matches. He can come on as a substitute, and most likely he will, and take a shot at any time. Ruslan doesn't need much time to enter the game to pass across the pitch or score from long range, as he is able to do and has done many times.
Moreover, Malinowski knows Italy and their players very well. He has been playing in Serie A for so many years. Yes, he is not playing very well at his club at the moment, but that doesn't mean anything. Malinowski is a high-level footballer.
- On Rebrov's reproaches: some football bloggers and fans are now accusing Serhii Stanislavovych of not seeing or deliberately ignoring players from outside the top UPL clubs. They say why he doesn't call up anyone from Kryvbas, for example, defender Danylo Beskorovainyi. Or forward Yuriy Klymchuk from Rukh. After all, Kryvbas, Polissia and Rukh have proved their level against the giants and are among the leaders of the UPL...
- You see, such a game should be played by proven fighters, so to speak. This is not the match to experiment. This composition of the national team of Ukraine - the players called up by Serhii Rebrov for the match against Italy - is really the best. Optimal, I would say.
The match against Italy and the result is very important. This is not a game against, say, Liechtenstein. At stake is reaching or not reaching the European Championship. You have to win everything.
Later, yes, perhaps we should call up the players you have listed, but not now. This is my opinion.
- Has anyone from Karpaty reached the level of the Ukrainian national team? Who from your team would be useful in Rebrov's national team?
- We will talk about this when we go out and play in the Premier League .
"It's time to break the losing traditions. No one will drag Italy to the European Championship by the ears"
- Ukraine has never defeated Italy. Even with Andriy Shevchenko in the team. It seems to be done...
- I really hope that today Ukraine will correct this statistic. It's time to break this losing tradition. But if Ukraine plays like they did in the first game, we have no chance. We need to give our opponents a bite to eat.
Yes, it's good that this Italy doesn't have such big names as Buffon, Totti or Del Piero, but there is someone to play there. Remember the first game. If Italy had wanted to, it would not have been limited to a 2-1 scoreline in their favour.
I hope that the players and the coach have drawn conclusions after the defeat in Milan. It's not easy to beat Italy. The team needs to fight on the pitch.
- Italy is a very status team. For example, UEFA President Alexander Ceferin said, and I quote, "Italy must qualify for Euro 2024. Otherwise, it will be a disaster. Italy is too important". End of quote.
- I'm asking you... There is no need to inflate. No one will drag Italy to the European Championships by the ears. I don't believe it's possible at this level.
Our players must believe in themselves, then everything will be fine.
Viktor Glukhenkyi
