On Tuesday, 26 March, the Ukrainian national team will play the final match of the play-off round of the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle against Iceland. A day before the game, Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov held a pre-match press conference at the Tarczynski Arena in Wrocław, which will host the game.
Sergei Rebrov. Photo — O. Vasilieva- Will Tsygankov be able to play in tomorrow's match?
- We hope so. We have two more days, tomorrow we will make a decision. The most important thing now is his physical condition.
- Is there a possibility that tomorrow your team will play with two forwards?
- There is such a possibility.
- The head coach of the Icelandic national team said that his team may benefit from the pressure that is now exerted on the Ukrainian national team. How do you assess the morale of your team?
- Not only the players of our national team feel this pressure, but the whole Ukraine, which is subjected to daily bombardment of the enemy. Therefore, I think, the guys understand for whom they play. It is important to help our people, to give them emotions. I am sure all our players understand this.
I can`t say that it`s pressure. I told the guys: it is important to do what you can do, what you like to do. To do it well on the pitch. So tomorrow we will focus on the game and will not think about anything else.
- What can you say about the opponent?
- The Iceland national team is a strong team, which has good players and shows a very high level of game discipline. We understand the seriousness of the opponent, its quality, but I believe in my players, in our team. We know how to play. And now we concentrate on our game.
- There is a huge pressure on the Ukrainian national team and on you specifically now. In these conditions, do you manage to enjoy your work?
- I have already answered this question. I always enjoy working for Ukraine. At any time. And now it is the most important. It is interesting for me to work here. I like to work with Ukrainian players who understand me and want to implement my ideas. I am very honoured to work here.
- How ready is Zinchenko to play two matches in a row?
- Now - I do not know. We will see tomorrow. It is such a question... We have not decided whether Zinchenko will play. He definitely deserves to play, he is a patriot of the country. But, unfortunately, Oleksandr missed a lot at Arsenal. We will make a decision. So far I do not know how ready he is to play two matches in a row.
- At the end of the last century you scored a decisive goal for the Icelandic national team. How much has this team changed since then?
- Yes, I was given information that I scored for Iceland, but I don't even remember it. I do not remember that goal or that Iceland. Since then, the Icelandic team has improved a lot. First of all, in game discipline. And in general, a lot of football schools and fields have been built in this very small country since then. This is a completely different Icelandic team compared to the times when I was a footballer.
- How worried are the players in your team now?
- When I was a footballer, I was always very nervous before a match. But when you make the first step on the football field, you forget about everything and think only about the game. I am sure that it will be the same tomorrow on the part of all the guys.
If your question concerns the war in Ukraine, I saw the players this morning, and they were all on their phones: they were watching what is happening in Ukraine, watching the news about the shelling of Odessa and Kyiv. Given these events, we will be even more motivated, even more angry and we will be even more eager to show our potential on the football field.
- Given your coaching experience, is it possible to change goalkeepers between two such matches?
- I don't know. But I have already said: I am satisfied with the fact that all our goalkeepers now have practice in their clubs. At the highest level. The game is tomorrow. We will make a decision.
- How do you feel about the high media activity of your team's players?
- If you see such a high media activity, then I have a positive attitude to it. I think it will help the players, we should be open in this difficult period for Ukraine. Everyone should hear what the players of the national team feel and think, know what is going on in the national team. I am not against such a high media activity. And I am grateful to Andriy Mykolaevych (Andriy Shevchenko, - UAF president - ed.), who asked if it is possible to do it. It is his idea to give more information to the fans.
- After the match with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the players of the Ukrainian national team said that they did not fulfil the set-up for the game. Can you explain why this happened?
- If we played so badly, and I think that we really played badly, then we should all think about what the problem is. I definitely reflected on what the problem was, reflected on myself. And had a conversation with the team in the locker room after the match and then at the training camp. I am sure that all of us will go to tomorrow's game with a completely different mood.
You see, on the one hand the openness of players is good, but on the other hand - half of the press conference we try to comment on the statements of players after the match with the Bosnians....
Apart from Serhiy Rebrov, the press conference was also attended by Ukraine forward Roman Yaremchuk. Report on his communication with journalists >>>>
Oleksandr POPOV
