Ex-forward of Dynamo Kyiv: "I would reject all these experiments in the Ukraine national team"

Former Dynamo Kyiv forward Viktor Khlus shared his impressions about the friendly match Poland - Ukraine (1:3) and assessed the prospects of the Ukrainian national team at Euro-2024.

- There is less than a week left before the opening of the continental championship, so I will give my thoughts on the Ukraine national team. I looked at the composition of our team in the first friendly game - with Germany and in the second - with Poland. So, I have the impression that only the coach needs the European Championship.

As a former soccer player, I can say that unlike today's players, who are used to playing one half, in our time everything was different. For me personally, missing even one match was a disaster. In such cases, you lose not only the incentive, but also the game rhythm. And inside you start to develop resentments: some spur you on, and others make you want to say: "Fuck you all...!".

- In your opinion, what do you need to avoid any rough edges in preparation for matches?

- I would throw away all these experiments with the main team. Experiments should be done in the club, not in the national team. After all, everyone in the national team is a player. All of them are in tone and each of them knows well what to do on the field.

The main thing now is to determine the most capable selection of performers, who can adequately fight in the matches of the European Championship. It is clear that it is very difficult for Sergei Rebrov to choose. Because all without exception are high-class players, playing in good clubs - both in Ukraine and in Europe. In my opinion, it is better for this or that player to play three matches of the group stage, than to be satisfied with half a half and think only about Belgium. This is wrong. A core player should always feel like a core player.

Maxim Kovalenko