Head coach of the national team of Ukraine Serhiy Rebrov in a live broadcast of the Instagram-channel "vbetukraine" answered questions related to the upcoming match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off of selection for Euro 2024, and also once again touched upon the topic of the recent fight with Italy (0:0) in the final round of the group stage of qualification for the European championship.
Sergei Rebrov- What is the head coach of the Ukrainian national team doing now? Are you on holiday?
- What is a holiday? Yes, it is hard when you do not train every day, do not communicate with the players. But this is the schedule. Unfortunately, now the national teams have a four-month break. But still we have a lot of work: we need to watch matches of opponents, we need to watch matches of clubs, in which candidates for the national team of Ukraine play. So I do not consider it a holiday.
We and my assistants have already reviewed many matches involving the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And we have received very important information. When there is such a big pause, you watch more matches and find more details that need to be shown and explained to the players.
- Have you already forgotten the situation with the penalty in the match against Italy?
- Forgotten, not forgotten, but I think that in that match we showed a good game. Although it was difficult to psychologically adjust to the game, because the match was decisive.
As for the penalty, the VAR referee took the responsibility in that situation. But I think that in such decisive matches, where one episode can determine the fate of the team, determine whether it gets to the European Championship, the minimum thing that the referee could do is to reconsider this moment. In my opinion, there was a penalty. Some say it wasn't. Opinions are divided, but most of them are in favour of the fact that there was a penalty.
Yes, VAR is part of the progression of football. But what matters is who sits on VAR and what decisions are made. If VAR technology has already been introduced, it is very important that VAR referees are qualified and clearly understand what moments should be shown to the head referee and what moments should not be shown to the referee.
- Do you believe that the reason for this penalty situation is that Italy is a big national team, or is it just a human factor?
- I don't explain it to myself in any way. It was and is over. Now we have other matches ahead of us. I have no right to judge whether it is a referee's mistake or other factors. It has already happened. Now we have to prepare for other meetings.
- How do you feel about the fact that the Ukrainian national team is considered the favourite in the upcoming play-off match of Euro-2024 selection with Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- What is a favourite? If we played against Italy, which was the favourite, but in the last minute we had to kick a penalty and win the game. Being the favourite just puts more responsibility on you. Now everyone thinks we are favourites to play the Bosnians, but I don't think it means anything. We must prepare very carefully for the game and with the same spirit to go on the field. I am sure that we know how to play football, we have shown that. But now it is very important not to think that you are the favourites, but to prepare for this game with concentration.
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