Coach Serhiy Lavrynenko shared his vision of the reasons why some players of Dynamo Kyiv were not included in the Ukrainian national team's application for Euro 2024.
Serhiy Lavrynenko. Photo — nkveres.comDenys Popov.
- The psychological pressure on center backs in league and international matches is very different. At right center back, Ilya Zabarnyi is our main man because he plays in the top league and plays all the matches there at a high level.
Valerii Bondar played a lot of matches in the Champions League, which Popov lacked this season. Although Popov played well in the domestic arena in the 2023/24 season. In the past, he had more disastrous matches, but this one is better. But international matches speak for Valery.
Vitalii Buyalskyi
- In my opinion, football is more dynamic now than before. And his position requires more in this aspect. Performers of other national teams are more mobile, explosive, sharp. He lacks physical qualities, but Buyalsky's head is super. At the level of the Ukrainian championship, he looks good, but where the best compete, he lacks a little.
Vladyslav Kabaev.
- He has all the qualities, good speed. But when Dynamo was coached by Mircea Lucescu in the first half of the season, Kabaev did not show the game that was expected of him. Perhaps he could not cope with the emotional pressure. When Shovkovskyi came in, Kabaev became completely different. This psychological factor may also play a role in the selection of the national team's coaching staff, because the responsibility for the country is enormous. Those who do not know this will not understand.
Nazar Voloshyn.
- He is also a young player who is on the rise. I think it is still difficult for him to compete with the players of the national team. He's definitely knocking on the door, but it's not time yet. Perhaps Voloshin will prove himself at the Games and get a call-up to the national team in the fall.
Oleksandr Pikhalonok.
- It so happened that he got injured in the second half of the season and dropped out. Unfortunately, there is no time to get back in shape now. And no coach will take him from scratch.
Oleksandr Shcherbatykh
