Oleg Fedorchuk: "Shaparenko has a significant disadvantage - he plays poorly up top, and this component is very necessary agains

Famous Ukrainian coach Oleh Fedorchuk told us what he expects from the final play-off match of the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle Ukraine - Iceland, which will take place today in Wroclaw.

- The Ukrainian national team is a clear favourite in all respects: statistical, financial, and player level. But the Scandinavian teams have always been distinguished by their high organisation of the game. I think the lacklustre game against Bosnia will shake up our players and coaching staff, and they will prepare more thoroughly for Iceland. We can already see that our players are giving interviews differently, not with such a cheerful patriotism. This is encouraging.

Iceland is famous for passing the ball, but they fight for space. They have a lot of vertical passes. I'd also like to mention Malinowski's Genoa team-mate Gudmundsson, who is even better than Ruslan. Iceland will build their football on simple decisions and rely on set pieces. We need to create an arrhythmia, control the pace and use the flanks more.

- What substitutions do you think Rebrov will make compared to the match against Bosnia?

- The rotation will be minimal - no more than two players. I'm thinking of replacing Zinchenko. Instead, we need a more creative player. The question here is that Zinchenko is a leader, but he hasn't gained any form. Rebrov needs to work on this issue very carefully so as not to ruin the atmosphere.

Who should replace Zinchenko? Malinowski is unlikely, because he has little game practice. Shaparenko is in good shape, plus he has a good relationship with Dynamo's Brazhko. But Shaparenko has a significant disadvantage - he is not good up top, and this component is very necessary against Iceland. Zinchenko, for all his fragility, won a lot of aerial battles at Arsenal and Manchester City.

I don't think Zubkov failed against Bosnia. In recent games for the national team, he has been one of the best. Zubkov gives a lot of work, and he is versatile, so I think Rebrov will not risk Hutsulyak and will play Zubkov.

- Which of the Ukrainian national team players do you expect to play brilliantly, who should become a leader and lead the team?

- I was very disappointed with Sudakov. Against Bosnia, he took the initiative a lot, stubbornly wanted to play the game through the middle of the field and did not load the flanks enough.

Mudryk was good in the end, and I expect a lot from him. He played a full match for the first time in a long time. You can see that Mykhailo is in good condition. I also expect Dovbyk to take more part in the game. Even though he scored against Bosnia, he didn't have much time with the ball.

- Rebrov often entrusts Dovbyk with a place in the middle, but Yaremchuk, coming on as a substitute against Bosnia, scored a goal and gave an assist, becoming the Lion of the Match. Who do you think will play up front against Iceland, or will Rebrov take a chance on two strikers at once?

- This is the final, and no one takes any risks in decisive matches, so Rebrov will play with one forward. I think Dovbyk will start, he has more game practice. Even in Valencia, Yaremchuk didn't play two full halves, and he hasn't been known for his stamina lately.

- What is your prediction for the match?

- While against Bosnia I bet on a draw in normal time, against Iceland I think we will win 1-0. I'm betting on Sudakov's goal because he needs it the most. We will help his agents sell him.

Andrii Piskun