The very next day after Ukraine's qualification for Euro 2024, the Belgian media began a detailed analysis of the Red Devils' future opponent, Team1 writes.
Belgian media warn their national team against underestimating Serhiy Rebrov's team.
"On 26 June in Stuttgart, we will have a very difficult match against Ukraine, a technical, mobile, fast team with an iron character. Despite the long way to qualification through a series of head-to-head matches, the 24th team in the FIFA rankings can become the main competitor for our Devils for leadership in Group E.
Rebrov's much more capable and motivated team has a number of advantages over the teams of Slovakia and Romania, which are ranked 45th and 48th respectively in the FIFA World Cup rankings," writes the popular French-language Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure.
Brussels-based Le Soir, in turn, emphasises the winning composition of the Ukrainian national team: "The backbone of this team is based on players from the top five championships on the continent, as well as young talents from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv.
Andriy Lunin, who had been hiding in the shadow of Thibaut Courtois for a long time, quickly proved in both the Spanish league and his national team's head-to-head matches that the second goalkeeper of Real Madrid is also a championship level, which is difficult to compete with even for a goalkeeper like Kepa.
Half of Ukraine's defence is now playing in the English Premier League - what better place for young and talented players to learn? Almost the entire left wing of the team (perhaps the most active and dangerous), with Zinchenko and Mudryk at the helm, is also from Foggy Albion.
Antwerp probably haven't forgotten 21-year-old Sudakov, who caused a lot of problems for our players in the Champions League matches, where he, in particular, managed to hit the goal of the formidable Barca.
Well, the fantastic abilities of Malinowski and Yaremchuk are still remembered in our Jupilee League today. And as a cherry on top, the Spanish Primera duo of Dovbyk and Tsygankov, who managed to bring the Spanish championship into a turbulent zone with their fantastic performances for this season's surprise team in Spain - Girona. So, what do you think of this company as a rival for our 'devils'?" the newspaper's journalists ask a logical question.
In turn, colleagues from La Meuse newspaper emphasise the fantastic mentality and morale of the Ukrainian national team.
"The whole world knows what is happening in Ukraine today. For Serhiy Rebrov's team, in the current situation, the football field has essentially become their battlefield, where they fought steadfastly and confidently to the last and deservedly qualified for the Euros. I want to believe that Domenico Tedesco will take into account all these factors and will be able to adequately prepare our team for the confrontation with the Ukrainians, with whom you need to keep your eyes open!" - said La Meuse.
Volodymyr Grabyshchenko
