Well-known football expert Oleksandr Sopko shared his impressions of yesterday's semi-final play-off match of the Euro 2024 qualifying round between the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine (1:2).
Alexander Sopko. Photo — V. Peregnyak- The game left a double impression, " Sopko said. - The playoffs clearly demonstrate that the game is nothing, but the result is everything. Of course, everything ended well for us. I want to congratulate both the fans and our players and coaching staff. It is very hard for the Ukraine national team to play these knockout matches, and we have been frankly unlucky before.
If this meeting ended with a Bosnian victory, I would say that dedication and character beats class. Of course, such a result would have been unfair, but then we could say that the one who wanted it more won. Fortunately, a football match lasts 90 minutes and you have to play until the end, which is what the Ukraine national team did, for which they were rewarded.
- Did the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina choose the right tactics for this game?
- Yes, because in the play-off matches it is not skill that comes to the fore, but desire, fighting qualities, the ability to run a lot and destroy. The opponent was more motivated in this respect. And the Ukrainians wanted to play through the pass, on the flanks, counted on the advantage in class.... However, all this was destroyed by Bosnia and Herzegovina's desire to fight. Almost all the top duels were for the Bosnians, and the fight was one-on-one. Most of the time in this match, the home team played more simply and effectively.
Plus some players of the Ukraine national team fell out of the game. Mudryk was a disappointment, except for the last 12-15 minutes. I did not see anything constructive from Zubkov. Unfortunately, Zinchenko disappointed, who is quite significantly different in the worst way from himself of two years ago. You can not play without emotion, without literally chewing out every ball.
- However, our team managed to turn the situation around...
- Everything I said lasted until about the 80th minute. And then the Bosnians gave away the initiative. Initially, Sergei Rebrov made changes in tactics. When going on the attack, Brazhko began to dispose of the ball a bit more, Mikolenko and Konoplya became more active on the flanks. And Rebrov guessed with the substitutions as never before. Our team began to act more easily, we began to run and fight more, and the end of the game was already behind us.
- Why was Dovbik invisible most of the time?
- The ball did not reach him. Our team acted very slowly. The same Zubkov and Mudryk were waiting for a pass to his feet.... Nobody even tried to throw a pass behind the backs of the defenders until now. For Dovbic to be effective, he needs passes from the flanks. To be honest, I was hoping that Mudryk had learnt something in APL, but as it became clear after this match, he hasn't! By the way, Mikhail started to play better when he was tired.... He stopped rushing and, consequently, often losing the ball, he began to see the pitch better, to look for his partners with passes.
- Were you surprised by the starting line-up of the Ukraine national team?
- No. It was clear that Tsygankov would not be able to play, and everything else was predictable. We could guess who would appear on the flank - Konoplya or Tymchyk. However, the coach opted for the more attacking Konoplya, who, moreover, was supposed to make up an established club link with Zubkov. It turned out that the option with Konoplya worked - he made a goal.
I liked Brazhko's game, which was his debut in the national team. I would like to note that the absence of our veterans - Stepanenko and Sidorchuk - was not felt at all. Brazhko acted with skill and has every opportunity to progress. As for Lunin, there was no hard work for him, and he was not to blame for the missed goal.
- Did the Bosnians deservedly open the scoring?
- Of course, their goal was not accidental. They worked very actively for a certain time in our penalty area, and when Hadzikadunic went forward, for some reason he was met by only one of our back player, who was not insured. This is a mistake of the entire Ukrainian national team defence. The opponent was allowed to shoot, and the ball ricocheted from Matvienko and flew into our goal. I would like to point out that this is not the first time something like this happens to Matviyenko.... I don't know whether he lacks concentration and attention, or something else.... But in general, there should be no complaints about Matvienko's defensive play.
- You emphasised the fact that Serhiy Rebrov made successful substitutions. Gutsulyak's appearance did not surprise you?
- Absolutely. Zubkov had to be changed. The team needed speed, which Zubkov could not give. The same applied to Zinchenko. We needed pressure on the goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With two powerful strikers on the point we managed to organise this pressure. I would like to note that Malinovskyi also increased his speed. Although, in my opinion, all these substitutions could have been made earlier.
- The next opponent of the Ukraine national team in the play-offs of Euro-2024 selection will be Iceland. What should be changed in the game of our team, what can be added?
- The Icelandic team is an improved version of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are waiting for a lot of fighting, top duels, dangerous standards. I expect about the same game as against the Bosnians. In this case, the Ukrainians can not lose again just in the fight. If everything will be in order, we will be superior in skill.
I still expect more simplified and efficient football from Mudryk, perhaps the appearance of Gutsulyak in the "start", and more rational game from Sudakov, who has no sense to do such a significant amount of work when the quality is lost.... Sudakov needs to stay calm and sensible, which will reduce marriages and give more quality.
The main thing now is to recover after the match with the Bosnians. There should be no significant fatigue, because there are no such veterans in our team.... We must take into account that it was the first game of the Ukrainian national team after a significant break, a test of its condition. It gave a lot of theory. It is important that we got the result, and Rebrov has tactical options for Iceland, especially since the Icelanders' game against Israel can be watched and well studied.
Oleg Semenchenko
