Former head coach of the Ukraine national team Leonid Buryak told what he expects from the final play-off match of the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle Ukraine vs Iceland, which will be held today in Wroclaw.
- I would like to note that there is no anxiety after the game with Bosnia and Herzegovina, " Buriak emphasised . - We should thank our national team for the result, but there are problems. Many waited and then looked for aesthetics in the football of the Ukrainian national team, but in the play-off matches the main thing is the result. Now we have such a generation of Ukrainian players, who can beat anyone. Our players play in strong championships, every week - against strong opponents, so everything is normal with psychology, especially on their field, with the support of their fans.
The Ukrainian national team has one step left in the final part of Euro-2024. We had both good and bad matches with Iceland.... This is, of course, a specific national team. Icelandic players are very hard-working, for which they are appreciated, for example, in the Bundesliga. Now they are a young and hungry for success. We must realise that it is not easy to beat the current Israeli national team. And the Icelanders did it, and even with a big score.
- What is the most important for the Ukraine national team in preparation for the match with Iceland? Recovery?
- No, not recovery. There are no age players in this team. The current team is quite young and, I think, three or four days will be enough to get back to normal. I see the problem in another way - unfortunately, not all our guys have a stable and sufficient practice in their clubs. However, the Ukraine national team again needs to prepare for a tough fight for the result. As Valeriy Lobanovsky once said, the result remains, and all the other charms of the game are quickly forgotten.
- According to the latest news, Viktor Tsygankov returned to the general group of the national team. What is the probability of his participation in the game with the Icelanders?
- I think that Tsygankov will not be involved. There is an example of Zinchenko... This is physiology, and miracles do not happen in this regard. In the match with the Bosnians it was obvious that Zinchenko has not fully recovered, has not regained his best conditions. Tsygankov has also been without game practice for some time... Of course, Serhiy Rebrov will decide. In addition, in my opinion, there are problems with Mudryk's form. Let's see...
- Can we expect any changes in the Ukraine national team, and what do you think about Brazhko's debut?
- Brazhko is a reliable player, one of the best support players at the moment. He has everything for further progress. Brazhko is able to quickly make standard and non-standard decisions. Of course, he needs time - first of all, for self-confidence. As for Brazhko's arrival in the national team, I recently told Rebrov: God cleans his own.... It turned out that due to injuries or the condition of older players, Brazhko got this unique chance.
As for the changes in the squad, it is a process, and the coach these days will assess the condition of each performer, his readiness for a difficult match with Iceland. Sergei Rebrov is not an enemy to himself, and he will not put the weak for the game.
- How can the match with Iceland end?
- Our national team must pass such an opponent. This is an obligation to the country, to the VSU. Iceland is not France, Italy or Spain ... The Ukrainian national team is simply stronger and cooler, so I really hope for our victory.
Oleg Semenchenko