Leonid Buriak, former coach of Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team, has told us what he expects from the Germany-Ukraine friendly to be held in Nuremberg today.
- Rebrov played his first match in charge of the Ukrainian national team a year ago against Germany. That game ended with a score of 3:3. Should we expect a similar goal extravaganza this time?
- It would be better if we played Poland first and then Germany. The Bundestim is a very serious team that tests players and their readiness. I will watch this game with interest. We will see in what condition the players will approach the game after the end of the season. I think the game will be interesting.
- Do you think the line-up that Rebrov will field for Germany will be indicative of the Euros?
- No, it won't. The national teams of Ukraine and Germany will not play in optimal line-ups. Both teams have players recovering from injuries and illnesses. Moreover, the Champions League final has recently been held, and I think the players of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will not be able to make it to this match.
- What surprises do you expect in the Ukrainian national team?
- The line-up against Germany will be experimental, so it's hard to predict anything. Zinchenko: He is the leader of the national team, but he has recently fallen out of favour at Arsenal, so he needs to gain. But Rebrov is interested in him.
Not only Zinchenko, but also Mudryk and Malinowski did not play consistently for their clubs. These are the key players of our national team and it is very difficult to replace them. Therefore, let's hope that they will approach the Euro matches in optimal shape.
- Will the veterans, Stepanenko, Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk, help the national team, or did Rebrov call them up as "grandfathers" of the locker room?
- I think Rebrov is counting on them. Maybe not for the full 90 minutes, but they can help our team. They are experienced, qualified players and they deserve their chance. The fusion of experience and youth is good. Our veterans can calm the youngsters down and help them adjust from the Ukrainian championship to top-level matches.
- Will the application for the Euros remain the same or will there be changes?
- I am glad that an extended application was made for the Euros. It's a smart decision. It will remove conflicts in the team when the coach has to say: "I don't need you, pack up and go". All the players will be at hand.
Didn't Sikan and Yarmolyuk make it to the main list? Popov, who is looking good at Dynamo, hasn't made it either. But I don't want to comment on coaching decisions, because Rebrov is responsible for the result, he knows better.
Previously, we had central defenders with a height of 160, and now there is a surplus of very good players in this position. This is a plus for the coach.
- Is the current German national team strongly superior to Ukraine or not?
- If we talk about individual skills, Germany looks a little better. This is a serious team that will fight for high places at the Euros.
But we also have players who play in serious clubs and championships: Zinchenko, Mudryk, Mykolenko, Zabarnyi, Malinowski, Dovbyk, Tsygankov, Lunin.
- What is your prediction for the Germany vs Ukraine match?
- Of course, Germany is the favourite, but Ukraine can play with all teams now. It will be difficult for both Germany and us. We have good young people who have proven themselves in Europe. We have already played Germany 3-3, so why not play like that today? But we must strive for a victory that will bring positive emotions. During the war, when the whole country will be rooting for our team, this victory is more important to us.
But Germany has its own tasks. They have assembled a super-team that has beaten France and many other teams, they are considered a favourite, and German fans will not understand if they fail against Ukraine.
- You played against the German national team, which was the reigning European champion, in the 1997 Euro qualifiers. And against that star team, Ukraine looked decent, losing 0-2 and drawing 0-0. How did you manage to hold off the Germans then, what were your settings for the game?
- I remember the head-to-head matches at the 2002 World Cup. In Kyiv, we were as good as Germany and drew 1-1. But in Dortmund, unfortunately, we lost - 1:4. It was a problematic match. I remember Lobanovskyi shouting at one player so much that it was scary, I won't mention his name.
However, the Germans cheated in Dortmund. We came out for the warm-up in spiked boots, as if the pitch was good, we could play in spikes. But when we were about to sing the national anthem, they switched on the sprinklers and flooded the entire pitch. As a result, our players were like cows on ice.
- Which Germany is stronger - the current one or the one of 1997?
- Both then and now Germany had a good team. These are different generations, so you can't compare. Today there are a lot of good young people in Germany. The way I describe their football is that it's like a skating rink going downhill, which is very difficult to stop. I have a lot of sympathy for the German national team, I like the Bundesliga, which I enjoy watching.
Andrii Piskun