The legendary Dynamo forward and 1986 Ballon d'Or winner Igor Belanov was closely following the vicissitudes of the European Championships in Germany. Like millions of Ukrainians around the world, he was rooting for our national team, which was eliminated from the tournament after a 0-0 draw in the final group stage match with Belgium.
Igor Belanov
- What can you do, this is football. It happens, - the expert states the fact. - They say that a lot depends on one game. And so it happened at the current continental championship. We had the same thing during Euro 1988, with the only difference being that this one and only crucial game was not the first in the group, but the final! Having beaten the Netherlands in the group stage, we lost to them in the decisive match.
In general, at that European Championship, our team did not lose a single match on the way to the final. Led by Valeriy Lobanovsky, the team approached such a serious tournament quite responsibly and won silver medals. But the Ukrainian national team should not have lost at the very beginning of the group stage. I had warned before that that we should never relax, and that no one needs a "star" illness now. If there is no microclimate in the team, then nothing will work. And so it happened.
However, life goes on. We need to move forward and prove our professional fitness, not pay lip service to how "cool" we are. The European Championship does not like "star" illness. And it does not forgive.
- In the match with Romania, there was an outright failure. And what about the next games in the group - with Slovakia and Belgium, in which we won and drew, respectively?
- After the fiasco in the match with the Romanians, our guys did pull themselves together, playing well in the second half against the Slovaks and the entire match against the Belgians, but it was a little too late. Needless to say, the 0-3 result in the first game really hurt the Ukrainian national team. Nevertheless, our team is promising - if, of course, the coaching staff creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. And so that the players who defend the colors of the national team do not put money above football and their own dignity. After all, there is also a country to fight for in every match.
- The failure of the national team caused a flurry of criticism against both the players and the head coach...
- You should not blame Serhiy Rebrov and attack him, because he is not his own enemy. Despite the fact that we failed at the European Championship, we need to move forward, we have a good prospect. On the contrary, we need to help Rebrov build a truly competitive team. Of course, it's a shame that Ukraine failed so badly in the group stage at Euro 2024. Unlike the Georgian national team, which demonstrated what determination means.
- The Georgian team was a real surprise in the group stage of the European Championship. Winning against such a formidable opponent as the Portuguese national team led by Cristiano Ronaldo is worth a lot...
- I said before the European Championship that this is a dark horse that is capable of surprises. And so it turned out. The Georgians showed how united they can be and how they need to fight for the result, for their place in the team and for their country.
- How do you see the further course of events at the continental championship?
- Everything is so unpredictable that I don't even know how the events will unfold. I see that dedication and honor of your country are of great importance in the fight on the football field. At this tournament, I was convinced that it's not that simple.
- Who will you be rooting for now that Ukraine has been eliminated from the tournament?
- For the Georgians, of course! It will be very difficult for them in the 1/8 finals match with Spain, needless to say! But the Georgian national team has a crazy goalkeeper! What Mamardashvili does in the goal in every match is just fantastic! I really liked him. He can become the best goalkeeper in the European Championship. Unless, of course, the Spaniards beat the Georgians convincingly.
Vyacheslav KULCHYTSYI
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