Goalkeeper of Real Madrid and the national team of Ukraine Andriy Lunin in an interview with Marca assessed the performance of the Ukrainian national team at Euro 2024, and also commented on his mistakes in the first match of the tournament, with Romania (0:3).
Andrei Lunin- Euro 2024 was special for Ukraine?
- Yes, because since the beginning of the war, soccer has become special for the country, because millions of Ukrainians are watching us and want some joy. Before the matches, we were sent videos, photos, audio recordings, flags of our country... We also saw our soldiers in trenches and with weapons watching the matches of the Ukrainian national team. You can hear gunshots on these videos, but they were watching the game! This encouraged us, gave us goosebumps, but also put even more pressure on us.
First, we needed to get through the play-off stage of Euro 2024 qualification in March, and we did. And then we wanted to give people the joy of getting out of the group at the Euros itself, to thank the very warriors who protect us... We are very sad that we were not able to do that. Especially with the soccer we showed in the matches against Slovakia (2:1) and Belgium (0:0), we deserved more.
- You apologized to the fans after the first game, with Romania...
- Yes, I felt I had to do it. It is quite obvious that I made two mistakes. The first mistake is technical, and I think it can happen to every goalkeeper, but it's a mistake. I know what a goalkeeper's mistake is and a striker's mistake. A goalkeeper's mistake is a goal 90% of the time.
In the case of the second conceded goal, there was a lack of luck. First I failed to see the moment of the shot, and then I lost sight of the ball halfway through because it was blocked by one of the players. I had to jump blindly, but I missed.
And that's why I apologized after the match. It was the least I could do. I apologized and got on with my work.
But it was, of course, a shame, because this is the first time in history when a team with four points does not get out of the Euro group. The first match was decisive for us.
- How did the coach explain to you that you would not be in the squad for the next match?
- There were no explanations. We are not children. I also analyze my matches and know whether I played well or badly. I was morally prepared for the fact that I would not play, but I trained 100% in case I would still play.
- And you learned about the fact that you were out of the lineup right before the match?
- Yes, but it didn`t surprise me, because I had been mentally preparing for it for a few days.
Now I can tell you that two months before the Euros I played with discomfort in my knees and elbows. I took pills, did special exercises to keep playing.... I didn't want to stop because it was my season, it was my time to show the club and the coaches that I was really worth it. I did everything I could to overcome this pain and finish the year well.
At the Euros I wanted to be at the top of my abilities because of everything we talked about above, to give joy to Ukrainians during the war....
But those are not excuses. It was just sad that despite all these efforts, I failed to play well in the match against Romania, and then I didn't play at all.
- Why do you say that you wanted to prove your worth at Euro 2024? Don't you think that you have already shown a lot during the season?
- Euro-2024 was the end of the season, the highest level, where the best gather. After the year I wanted to end it on a positive note.
Translation and stylistic adaptation - Dynamo.kiev.ua, when using the material hyperlink is mandatory!
