Journalist Oleksandr Sazhko shared his opinion on who should play in the goal of the national team of Ukraine in the Euro 2024 match against Slovakia.
Andrei Lunin. Photo: Getty Images"It seems to me that this is not as simple a question as most people want it to be. Yes, Lunin played badly in several episodes, played a very weak match, but the same happened with the whole team - chains of mistakes led to Andriy's mistakes. Ukraine conceded goals after individual mistakes, but lost actually as a team, because everyone played for himself - just Lunin's mistakes were more noticeable.
I really do not like the situation that a Real Madrid reserve cannot be the main one in the national team. First of all, Andriy was the main and won the competition with a strong goalkeeper - Kepa. That it was due to Courtois' injury is another matter. It does not cross that Andrei proved how great a goalkeeper he is on distance and how much he has progressed during the season.
Secondly, one match can't prove he's not top - it was simply as much not Lunin's day as it was not the whole team's day. You can't destroy years of getting to this level and downplay all those achievements because of one terrible match.
That's why I really question who should be put on Slovakia. Lunin has proven time and time again that he has the kind of character where he only comes back stronger after mistakes and difficulties. Emotionally, he might be even better set up if he is given a chance.
On the other hand, what a blessing it is that we have two top goalkeepers. If Rebrov feels the need to replace him, Trubin will not be a weakening - that's for sure. Even compared to the best version of Lunin, not the same Andriy who came on for Romania. Besides, Trubin played confidently in qualifying for the Euros.
It seems to me that Rebrov can make enough changes to energize the team, although he is a conservative coach, counting on a narrow clip of players. If there are no changes, no one will understand him. And, of course, then the first change is Lunin for Trubin. Because here Ukraine does not lose in quality.
It is difficult for me to choose a clear-cut option. And, perhaps, it would even be more interesting to see Lunin further in the starting lineup - how he will cope with the pressure. After all, top players are not those who don't make mistakes. They are those who have the character to survive their mistakes and continue to show the quality play they demonstrate in every match.
And every player has his own Romania in his career, when you play a match that you want to erase from your memory," Sazhko said.
