Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih captain Danylo Beskorovainyi told us what he expects from the 2nd round of the Euro 2024 group stage match between Slovakia and Ukraine, which will take place today in Dusseldorf.
Danylo Beskorovainy- Danylo, the Ukrainian national team is once again approaching the match against Slovakia as a favorite. At least, according to bookmakers' odds. Do you think Serhii Rebrov's team is really stronger than Francesco Calzona's?
- Of course, Ukraine is the favorite. Both on paper and in terms of names. Serhii Rebrov has a very good selection of players, really high-quality performers. It's just that, you know, in the first game at Euro 2024 against Romania, everything somehow went wrong: Lunin cut himself, passed the ball the wrong way, and Stancu scored a great goal, then Andriy didn't help out and somewhere the guys broke down psychologically.
If tomorrow Rebrov sets up the team properly, chooses those players who are psychologically stable and who are not affected by the defeat by the Romanians, then everything will be fine. We will win.
In general, there is no point in recalling the Romanian fiasco once again. We need to move on. There are still chances for the 1/8 finals. We need to defeat Slovakia and prepare for the game against Belgium, which will probably be the key one.
- Was Slovakia's victory over Belgium a surprise to you? Is it natural or were they just lucky that Romelu Lukaku's goals were twice canceled?
- I would start with the fact that this Slovakia is a very high-quality team. Just look at the roster and where its leading players play, for which clubs in which championships. Goalkeeper Dubravka from the Premier League (Newcastle), defender Skriniar from French PSG, midfielder Lobotka from Italian Napoli. Why is Slovakia worse than Romania, and why can't it compete with Belgium and De Bruyne?
Did the Slovak victory over the Belgians come as a surprise to me? No, it didn't. It was a natural result. The Slovaks simply wanted to win more. Even despite the two disallowed goals by Romelu Lukaku, because we all saw that they were canceled on the merits (first because of the offside position, then because of the handball - ed.) Yes, they were lucky somewhere, but you have to earn your luck. With their dedication, Francesco Calzona's boys have earned both victories and luck.
- Who is the main star of Slovakia after the hipster punk Marek Hamšík retired from sports?
- If you look at the price tag, it's central defender Milan Škrinjar (30 million euros), but if you look at the playing qualities, let's say it's central midfielder Stanislav Lobotka.
- Slovakia qualified very well for Euro 2024. They lost only twice, and even then to Portugal (2:3, 0:1). Perhaps this generation of Slovaks with Dubravka, Škrinjar and Lobotka is stronger than Marek Hamšík and Martin Škrtel?
- Absolutely not. Hamšík and Škrtel were top players, truly world-class. Martin was actually my favorite defender at one time. Skriniar is not stronger than Skrtel.
And there is nothing to say about Marek. When he was at his peak, he was among the top players in Europe. Now I do not see in the Slovak national team even close to the level of talent of such a player as Hamšik was. Therefore, the answer to your question is obvious - this generation is no stronger than the previous one.
- Now let's talk about the sore spot. After the 0-3 defeat by Romania, waves of mud were poured on the players of the Ukrainian national team. I'm not asking whether the hate was fair. What is interesting is how it could have affected the moral and psychological state of our players.
- I think so: the fans had the right to openly express their point of view, to be dissatisfied, especially after the 0-3 loss. No one expected a defeat, let alone a crushing one. Criticism is normal. However, it is not necessary to go into any personal topics, such as family or personal life of the players.
Now the guys are a bit depressed, but they are professionals, I'm sure of it. So they will cope. Moreover, the fans have already left and will support Ukraine in the match against Slovakia no less passionately than in the previous game.
I repeat, Rebrov must release for the second round game those who will be one hundred percent ready not only physically but also mentally, first and foremost. In the game against Slovakia, Ukraine's players - our entire team - must be one. To be a fist, not a palm.
- I wouldn't want to blame anyone personally for the fiasco in the first match, but Andriy Lunin definitely didn't play the best game. After the goalkeeper's mistakes, shouldn't Rebrov release Anatolii Trubin for the game against Slovakia?
- There should be a hundred percent rotation. Some players need to realize that they are not irreplaceable. If we see Trubin starting instead of Lunin, I think no one will blame Rebrov. It will be normal and natural. Andriy will have to take it well, because he didn't do well in the game against Romania. Everyone makes mistakes, even top goalkeepers like him. You just need to draw the right conclusions. Lunin, if he does not get into the starting 11 for the match against the Slovaks, should definitely not be offended by Rebrov.
- Ukraine has nowhere to retreat. We need to defeat the Slovaks at all costs to maintain real, not theoretical, chances of reaching the last 16 of Euro 2024. Will Rebrova risk playing two forwards?
- I think Ukraine should play two strikers, but I don't fully understand how Dovbyk and Yaremchuk interact with each other. You need to be in the middle of the team to know such nuances.
Both Artem and Roman are great strikers. However, one of them has to play in the back, play the so-called "ten". And which of them can play like that? That's the question. Both Dovbyk and Yaremchuk are pronounced wingers. Both are powerful, tall, love and feel good in the fight.
- What is your prediction from Danylo Beskorovainy?
- I am sure that Ukraine will win. And with what score... I'll put it at 1:0 or 2:0 in favor of the Yellow and Blues.
Viktor Hlukhenkyi
