Former Ukraine midfielder Oleh Shelayev told us what he expects from the Ukrainian national team's performance at Euro 2024.
Oleg Shelayev- Oleg Mykolayovych, what do you expect from the Ukrainian national team at Euro 2024?
- I think like all the fans, I expect a good game, to go as far as possible in this tournament, that each player will show his best. There are high expectations from this squad.
- What do you think is the minimum task for the national team?
- To get out of the group. If I'm not mistaken, if we play head-to-head matches, it will be a game with the Dutch national team, so getting out of the group is the minimum task that the Ukrainian national team must accomplish.
- If you evaluate our rivals, what can you say about the strengths and weaknesses of these teams?
- Let me say this: Romania has a good team, they are somewhat reminiscent of our team, which has merged and is a very interesting team, and they also have interesting playing connections.
The Belgians are in a transitional stage - the older generation can no longer provide the power they had before, and the younger generation is just beginning to realize themselves. This is a good team with individually strong players.
The Slovaks are a strong team, there is nothing much to add about them. The Belgians are the favorites of the group, but there will be an equal fight for second place.
- Do you agree that the golden generation of the Belgians has already ended a few tournaments ago, when they were among the main contenders for the trophy, and now it is a completely different team?
- We focus on names. Yes, they were big names, but this tournament can give them a huge boost. The same applies to the Spanish national team, the names are not the same as before, but they have an interesting lineup and the opportunity to make a name for themselves. Soon we will get new golden teams of these national teams.
"Our national team has six non-alternative positions"
- Let's get back to our national team. Can you predict the starting eleven of our national team?
- In the goal, despite the fact that Trubin gives great competition and it's a nice headache for Serhiy Rebrov, I'm betting on Lunin. On the right, the coach fully trusts Yukhym Konoplya, it seems that Tymchyk is inferior to him in terms of playing qualities. In the center of defense - Zabarnyi and Matvienko.
- What about Svatko, will he be the third player to choose in the center of defense?
- Yes, definitely, or he will be the third main defender in a three-center defense.
- How do you assess his performance against Italy and Germany?
- We are talking about several matches. As for Oleksandr's defensive qualities, we all know about them, but when we have to attack, dominate the field and look for hidden passes, Matvienko has them. Oleksandr is very reliable in the game on the second floor, but in terms of attacking qualities, in particular passing, he is worse than Matvienko. Therefore, I am in favor of a pair of central defenders - Zabarnyi and Matvienko.
On the left, Mykolenko, if he's okay.
In the middle of the field I would put Brazhko and Zinchenko.
- Why not Stepanenko?
- Perhaps Rebrov will play Stepanenko, he has many qualities: he is a leader, psychologically stable, played a lot in similar tournaments, he is an example for young people, for sure. But for myself, I would put Brazhko.
- Who will be the main central attacking midfielder: Sudakov or Shaparenko?
- I prefer Sudakov.
- What about the flanks, do you expect any surprises?
- No, I don't. As for me, we have six non-alternative positions. A striker (Dovbyk), wingers (Tsygankov and Mudryk), a central defender (Zabarnyi), a goalkeeper (Lunin) and a player in the middle of the field (Zinchenko).
"8 out of 10 people will say that Dovbyk will be the main one"
- You say that Dovbyk is the only alternative main striker, but the coach plays Yaremchuk in this position.
- Rebrov is doing the right thing. In case of injury or fatigue, you have to have a player in a game tone to replace him. The same applies to Shaparenko, if the coaching staff sees him as a replacement for one of the main three. I think that 8 out of 10 people will say that Dovbyk will be the main one.
- Who do you see as a leader in this team?
- Viktor Tsygankov, for one. Stepanenko, if he plays. And, perhaps, Matvienko, if he has the sportsmanship.
- Can you single out anyone in Romania or Slovakia?
- I can't name anyone from Slovakia. It's more of a team story there, but of course, leaders make the difference. But if you have a healthy, good team that is committed to its goal, it can mean a lot in such tournaments. This is the danger of such teams, when you don't have big names and you don't know what to expect from them.
Our team has such personalities and we will play more carefully against them personally. Dovbyk, the best scorer in La Liga, Lunin, the Champions League winner, are all great irritants for the opponent. Our coaching staff needs to find the same irritant for the opponents so that the team can adjust.
- What about Belgium?
- There's De Bruyne and Doku from Manchester City, Lukaku.
"The match with Poland is not a failure"
- What can you say about the friendly matches? How important were they and are you satisfied with the results?
- I think they meant nothing, and what we played did not reflect what we want to see at the European Championship. It's just about game practice, about game connections and game tone. With a strong opponent, we had the opportunity to feel the power of Germany and hone our low defense. With an equal opponent, you let the players who will not play much at the Euros play, and the last game you play with a weak opponent to prevent injuries and give the players confidence.
- So thematch with Poland cannot be called a failure?
- No, the majority of the players were those who will be rotating players at the Euros. You let a player play a match, you look at him, if he convinces you that he is ready to fight, then you will have a trump card up your sleeve. If you see that he can't give you what you want, then you count on him less. We can see who will be a priority: Bondar or Svatok. Can Zubkov play a half as well as Mudryk? Can Tymchyk replace Konoplya?
- Is this generation of players the strongest in the history of the Ukrainian national team or was it better at the 2006 World Cup?
- I never compare generations. Each generation has its own time, its own rivals, its own history. We have great legionnaires playing in our national team now.
In those days, we had only 4 legionnaires in the national team. Everything has its time. We cannot compare the opponents with whom these generations played. We definitely have a very high-quality team now.
- Is it possible that the match with the Belgians will be decisive?
- It is possible that they will not want to give up the first place, and we will only need a victory. At the 2006 World Cup, it was easier - we conceded 4 goals to the Spaniards, and then played opponents who were within our power. It will be a different situation here.
- What is your word to the guys before the Euro?
- Be one team, it is important that everyone is charged with the same goal. There are very few moments like this in life, and the very participation in a tournament of this magnitude is a blessing for a footballer. You may never get such a chance again. It must be without injuries. Anything can happen, any result, but you have to give it your all and fight - and then the fans won't say anything bad. It sounds trite, but play, try and go as far as possible, we believe in you!
Oleksandr Shcherbatykh
