Head coach of the national team of Ukraine Serhiy Rebrov in the air of "Suspilny" and MEGOGO summed up the results of the match of the semi-final play-off round of the qualifying cycle of Euro 2024 with the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2:1), which took place last Thursday, 21 March, in Zenica.
Sergei Rebrov- Why did we manage to snatch victory today?
- Due to the desire and due to the changes made in our game by the players who came on as substitutes.
- Why was it so difficult for the Ukraine national team to create chances today?
- Because we played against a very strong opponent on his field, who used three centre-backs in his scheme. It is always very difficult. We managed to get into the attack, but we could not make the next step: it was very difficult to open such a defence. It's good that in the end we managed to do it. Moreover, we not only scored two goals, but could also build on our success.
- How do you feel now?
- Nothing now, but during the match there were emotions.
- How do you comment on the missed goal?
- There was a ricochet. What happened, happened. We will analyse everything. Now it is very important to recover the players and prepare for the play-off final.
- Do you think the missed goal energised the guys?
- I did not see that they were not energised before the goal. All the guys realised who they were going to play for today. But, I repeat, there were not only us on the pitch, but also the opponent, who defended with great forces, especially in the first half. It was difficult to crack such a defence.
- Did you expect such a game from the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- We did. We understood that the game would be exactly like this, we were preparing for the opponent's game with three centre-backs, although this team had not played this way before with their current coach. It's good that everything ended this way.
- What is it connected with the fact that you made substitutions so late?
- With the fact that I decided to make substitutions so late. (Smiles).
- Are you satisfied with the fact that the team played with two forwards at the end of the match?
- Yes, they made the game at the end of the match. And they deserved these goals. And the whole team deserved this victory. I think everyone saw that Roman Yaremchuk gave a new pace to our attack.
- What should we do to avoid repeating today's mistakes in the play-off final with Iceland?
- First of all, we need to recover. Today was a very difficult game on a very difficult pitch. But I am sure that in Wroclaw, with the support of our fans, it will be a completely different game. I am sure all the guys are waiting for this match. It's OK, we need to prepare and pass the next opponent.
- Playing with two forwards at the end of the match - was it a gamble?
- Yes, probably, it was a gamble. Since we were losing, it meant that we had to strengthen the attack with the help of substitutions. But at the same time, of course, it was necessary to preserve the structure in defence. The players who came on as substitutes helped the team a lot, they increased the tempo of our game. All the guys deserved this victory.
- How would you evaluate Brazhko's debut in the national team of Ukraine? How different were the tasks he faced from the ones Ruslan Rotan had in the youth national team?
- I do not know what tasks were set for Brazhko with Ruslan Rotan. (Smiling). But today he fulfilled all the tasks that were set before him. I think Brazhko showed a very good game, I am satisfied with his debut. He has a great future both at the club level and in the national team. I wish him to continue in the same spirit.
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