On 26 March, in Wroclaw, Poland, the Ukrainian national football team will fight for a ticket to the final of the European Championship in a decisive match against the Icelanders. Igor Yavorsky, a well-known footballer in the past and then a successful coach, shared his expectations of the clash in Poland and made a forecast for the match:
"To be honest, I didn't like the game of the Ukrainian national team last week against the Bosnians. I was most disappointed by the lack of aggressiveness in the attack. Apparently, the burden of responsibility had a negative impact on the actions of Serhii Rebrov's wards in Zenica. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykola Matvienko, and Oleksandr Zubkov cannot add this match to their assets. And it is fortunate that at the end of the match we unexpectedly managed to break the deadlock.
I hope that in the few days after the match in Zenitsa, our players not only recovered their strength but also worked on their mistakes. There were enough of them, especially in the actions of the midfield. Still, I don't think that tomorrow Serhii Rebrov will not entrust Zinchenko with a starting place, because he does a good job as a leader on the pitch and a locker room leader. But Oleksandr needs to be more creative. Most likely, after Viktor Tsygankov returns to the team, Zubkov will be among the substitutes. I do not think that Rebrov will decide to play with two strikers, although it is possible that Roman Yaremchuk will start from the first minutes. Still, it was his effective appearance on the pitch in Zenica that helped us escape.
As for the Icelanders, they play in a different style to the Bosnians. With them, you have to be on the lookout for set pieces and throw-ins. There will be a lot of riding. Our Englishmen Vitalii Mykolenko and Ilya Zabarnyi will have a great opportunity to demonstrate their ability to win duels on the second floor.
Our chance lies in our speed, cohesion, and throwing the ball behind the Icelandic defenders. It seems that they lack mobility. Well, and one more of our significant "trump cards" - the 12th player. I am also going to support the Ukrainian national team in Wroclaw. I think that by working together, Serhiy Rebrov's team will win 2-0 and finally make it to the final of the European Championship," said Yavorsky.