The fact that Serbia guaranteed Ukraine a place in the Euro 2024 play-offs with their draw against Bulgaria does not discourage Serhii Rebrov's team. The midfielder of our main team, Oleksandr Karavayev, is absolutely convinced of this. The midfielder clearly outlined the conclusions drawn after the first meeting with Italy and why it is important to complete the qualification victoriously right now. In an exclusive interview with Eli Ivanyukovych, Karavayev also told Terrikon.com how his life changed after the incredible goal against Northern Macedonia, what contributes to the national team's progress and which of our legionnaires has the greatest impact on the national team.
Oleksandr Karavayev. Photo: Gettyimages- How do you feel before the decisive Euro 2024 qualifying match? Is there any pressure or nerves? How do you discuss this match in the team?
- Everyone understands how important this match is. Many of our players have already been in this position when we played the previous Euro qualifiers, when we had Portugal and Serbia in our group. But we were in a better position there, we didn't lose a single match. As we said earlier, everything will depend on us in the last match. As Serhiy Stanislavovych told us today (the interview was recorded before the game), many in our team have not yet fully realised their potential, so this is the match when we can do it. And much more than in previous qualifying matches. This is what can be the key to victory.
- Mental readiness comes to the fore in this match. How do you avoid burning out and making mistakes because of the nerves?
- There is no specific answer to what exactly you need to do to make everything work on that particular day. Sometimes it happens that you see that you are super ready, in all aspects, tactically, mentally, physically, everything is fine, but you go out and realise that this is not your day. And after a few mistakes, emotions can come to the fore. And this is where the tipping point happens. If you are well prepared psychologically, you will not pay attention to this. So you need to react correctly, build on your attitude, and then everything will go according to plan.
- Is it easier to control emotions from the point of view of experience?
- Yes, it is much easier. I remember myself in my younger years, when emotions could play a cruel joke even when I knew I could show my best qualities. But what I see as a plus now is that the current generation, guys in their 20s, are somehow more confident, mentally more stable. They don't focus so much on their mistakes.
- This is the second match against Italy, how would you describe this team? What do you consider to be its strongest qualities?
- First of all, individual qualities, because everyone plays in the top leagues and top teams. This is their big plus. In general, Italy has always been famous for its tactical structure. They act correctly in defence and attack, and everyone knows exactly what to do on the pitch. In the theories, we can see very well that not one or two players combine, but three, four or five. They know exactly who is going to run and where, and this shows the class of the team. They have a very organised team.
- What were the main conclusions you made after the first match with Italy?
- We need to play with more concentration and, no matter how trite it may sound, not make mistakes. After all, this opponent will take advantage of them immediately. When you come out of defence and pass through the centre, you have to be one hundred per cent sure that the pass will go through. If not, they will immediately take advantage of this mistake and run out on the counterattack. So you have to play very reliably in your own half of the pitch, and you have to play more risky in the other half to create chances.
- Given that Italy will be happy with a draw, do you think it is possible that they will give you the initiative and play on the counterattack?
- Anything can happen, but I give it a very small percentage. I think their coaching staff and research group will want to control their game and demonstrate what they can do best. And we, in turn, will counter them with ours.
- Which of the players in the Italian national team of your role do you like?
- Dimarco. He is very relaxed. I also really like Barella. Although he doesn't play in my position, he stands out a lot. He may be small in stature, but he works hard both in the build-up and in attack. He is a very strong footballer, which is why he plays in Inter. These players show a very high level. There's also a defender, Bastoni, but he's injured. But they have a lot of players who can equally replace him. If we have 26 players, then they have 40-50 and they will be at about the same level.
- Actually, the Italian national team has recently had a lot of suspended and injured players, how do you discuss this in the team?
- We saw that 2-3 players are missing due to suspensions, 2-3 are injured, and then you see that they have an even bigger bench. You look at these names, and they are no worse than those who were the main players and are now injured. At the same time, we understand that these players are one hundred per cent ready to take their chance. There is no thought that any of their players can come out and fail the game.
- At different times, the Ukrainian national team was criticised for playing cautious football. And now we have a whole group of bright attacking players who are in great shape. Do you feel that football has become more attacking under Rebrov's leadership?
- If we take the period when Andriy Shevchenko coached the national team, he also always said that we should play more attacking football, control the game more. Yes, it all depends on the coaching staff. Both Andriy Mykolayovych and Serhiy Stanislavovych have played and coached a lot in Europe. So they see not only how football is developing in Ukraine, but also around the world. They try to keep up with the times so that we don't fall behind. And this, as everyone can see, is working. Both in the previous campaign and in this one, when Serhiy Stanislavovych came in, the team is progressing and showing results. This means only one thing - the right approach.
- Now many of our national teams are playing in the Premier League, La Liga and showing good results. How does this affect the national team as a whole?
- After they moved to those championships, it is clear that they are progressing. Their level is rising. Always when you play with the best, you want to catch up with them. For example, when Zinchenko was one of the first to start playing abroad, he came and we saw the difference between us, the players who play in the UPL. The difference in decision-making, how he looks at the situation on the pitch. In the UPL, there is a very short period of time to make a decision. That is, he is already used to it. And because he thinks faster, he excels in some components. This is only a plus for the national team.
- Serbia reached the Euros and thus guaranteed Ukraine the play-offs, doesn't it cool you down a bit?
- No, we don't pay attention to it. We understand that it is better to do our job in the match against Italy and reach the Euros. But, of course, this is another option for us, but it does not affect our attitude to the match.
- How does the national team perceive the fact that UEFA actually openly supports Italy and notes that another major forum without it will be tantamount to a fiasco?
- Of course, Italy is a top team. It has won the World Cup and European Championships. Of course, when such top teams play at major forums, it is very good for the audience. We understand that not everyone wants to see Ukraine there and it would be better if it was Italy. But of course, you can't be so openly sympathetic. Everyone understands between the lines. I think that when there are lower-class teams in such tournaments, it will contribute to the development of football. For example, Greece, which became European champion in 2004, or Denmark in 1992, so it's great for the football community. It gives the non-top teams and their countries a boost in development.
- Do you believe that the refereeing will be objective?
- I do. I really liked the refereeing at Euro 2020. There were a maximum of 1-2 mistakes in each match. It was widely noted that it was one of the best refereeing in history. There were almost no controversial moments, everything was very clear. That is why I believe that such international matches are officiated objectively. Maybe there is some small chance that somewhere they are more sympathetic to the top teams, but I don't think it's enough to affect the result.
- You scored an unrealistic goal against Northern Macedonia, it has millions of views. Given that you have only recently created an Instagram account and it hasn't been promoted yet, how did you feel this surge of attention from the fans?
- It's not my account. I don't have one.
- How come? You're even followed by your teammates and Dynamo.
- I used to have one, with a blue tick, but now I don't. I can't understand how they can't understand that it's not me. (laughs) But in general, I don't pay attention to it.
- But that's not what the question is about. Did you feel an unrealistic amount of attention to your person?
- At first, when I scored that goal, I thought - well, a goal and a goal, there was an empty goal... But then an acquaintance of a friend of mine, about 50 years old, came up to me and said: "My father was watching, he's 85 years old, and he was so excited about that goal that he reconsidered his attitude to football. So when people just come up to you and almost everyone says: "Top goal, wow, super," at that moment you realise what emotions you evoke in people. I am glad that I gave people these emotions. These feelings cannot be bought for any money in the world and such moments happen once in a lifetime. I can say that the attitude towards me as a player has changed a little bit for the better. On the part of the fans.
Before, they used to come up and just take pictures and talk, but after this goal, they realised that it was not just a goal, but an intellectual move. After all, many people think that footballers are not only stupid, but uneducated. I believe that footballers are very intelligent, because when you are on the football field and play at such a high level, intelligence and a broad outlook play a very important role. People don't know it, but many of the players read books, learn different languages, and you can just sit and talk to many of them on any topic.
- Viktor Kovalenko recently scored for Empoli and dedicated the goal to Kherson. If you score again, will you say hello to your hometown in the camera?
- Of course, it's not even out of the question. Everyone knows what situation my hometown was in for 9-10 months. After it was de-occupied, Kherson was under constant shelling. My father stays there all the time. And recently, it happened that a piece of shrapnel hit the window in the next room, and my father was sitting in another room. Even in my nightmares, I can't imagine what is happening there... I don't understand why the world can't unite and end it all, as it was 80 years ago...
Ella IVANYUKOVYCH
