Former Ukraine goalkeeper and now a well-known Ukrainian coach Yuriy Virt commented on the national team's preparations for Euro 2024.
Andriy Lunin. Photo: UAF press service
- Trubin and Lunin each had one sparring match. Who, in your opinion, is the favorite for the role of the national team's number one at the Euros?
- I don't think these two games will decide. But Lunin has an advantage.
- Because of his club season?
- Of course, he had a great season. He won both the league and the Champions League. He was, so to speak, the main goalkeeper of Real Madrid. He deserved to be number one at the Euros with his performance. Especially since he played the head-to-head matches.
- Could the fact that he received less game practice at the end of the season have an impact?
- I don't think so, if the goalkeeper was out for 4 days... Although, yes, there was less game practice, he didn't play the last few matches and the Champions League final. But I believe that this will not affect his condition.
- Is it possible to rotate goalkeepers in such a tournament?
- If the third game against Belgium will not have tournament significance - for example, the team will already reach the last 16 - then I think rotation is possible, yes. Trubin also deserves to play in the championship. But this is only on condition that the game with the Belgians will not matter.
- The question is about another position - yesterday Mykolenko got injured again, how critical can his loss be and who can best replace him?
- There is Mykola Matvienko and Oleksandr Zinchenko. There are versatile players who can play this position and replace Vitaliy with dignity. If indeed Mykolenko does not play, it will definitely be a loss - he works very well in defense and supports the attack well.
- What do you think of the national team's preparation in sparring matches and what are your expectations from the national team for the Euros in general against the backdrop of these matches?
- These are control games, preparation for the championship. It's good that we played three matches, it's enough. Still, there is hope that the Ukrainian national team will be a pleasant surprise at the Euros. We hope that the team will be able to get out of the group. Then it will depend on who we get to play, but I am positive - we have an experienced coach, experienced players, and young players. We can expect to get out of the group and maybe go through one or two rounds of the playoffs.
Bohdan ANDRIYUK
