Former Metalist and Dnipro-1 coach Oleksandr Kucher shared his thoughts on the 2024/2025 Nations League draw, which saw our national team placed in a group with the Czech Republic, Albania and Georgia.
- Are you happy with the draw for the national team?
- It's hard to say, it won't be easy for sure. The Czechs are a very strong team, always physically fit and athletic. Georgians and Albanians should not be written off either. If you remember how we played them before, there were some problems. We can assume that somewhere an equal group. We shouldn't forget that this is football and it's not so easy to guess. Everyone will play to the best of their ability and give their all on the football pitch. It's not an easy group. Although many people believe that Ukraine has already won the group and moved on. But it may not be the way we want it to be and the way it is now.
- We could get England from the first basket. Would it have been a shock for Rebrov's team?
- I don't think it would be a shock. But lately, the Ukrainian national team has been playing better against the favourites. In our group, it is worth mentioning the Czechs, who are a little stronger than the others. And with the Georgians and Albanians, we will have to open up the opponents' defence, and in such matches it is always difficult for our team. Teams close down, then organise quick counterattacks, and we have to cope with this. And when we play like this against the favourites, we mostly succeed and we were satisfied with even better results. We can remember the last game with the Italians, when we had a chance to win and go straight to the Euros. But we'll see how it goes. We want to win the group.
- You have a lot of experience in matches for the national team. Does it matter whether it's the Nations League or the Euro or some other qualification ? Or do you always have to give your all when playing for the national team?
- It doesn't matter what tournament it is. Even control matches are always a responsibility. You play for your country, people are watching and cheering you on. You always have to give 100%, even 200% or more.
- Which of the players do you expect to shine in the tournament?
- It's hard for me to predict anything. There is a head coach who selects the team. I don't know who Serhii Rebrov will call up. That's why I can't expect anything. Everything is done by the staff, they will recruit certain players and work with them. And then we'll see which of them will make a shot.
- Which of the teams in the group was the most unlucky?
- We can't say that, we'll see who's unlucky after the last game. Whoever goes further is lucky, whoever is eliminated is unlucky. It is difficult to single out a clear outsider, all the games will be interesting. All efforts will be given on the field to score as many points as possible and eventually take first place.
Nazariy Shmigil