The head coach of the U-19 national team of Ukraine Dmytro Mykhailenko spoke about preparations for the match against Italy at Euro 2024 (U-19).
- How are Synchuk and Ogarkov, who were injured, feeling, and will they be able to play against Italy?
- Synchuk, we'll keep our fingers crossed, is recovering. He says he feels good, and we hope that everything will be fine tomorrow. But we will decide in the morning, after additional tests. Most likely, Mykola will not prepare for this game. The rest of the players are ready to fight and ready to win.
- Ukraine is so far the only team at the Euros that hasn't conceded but hasn't scored either. What are you focusing on now so that the guys can still score in the next match?
- You can't compare our matches with Northern Ireland, Norway and Italy. If we were a little disappointed when we didn't score in the first game, then in the second match we didn't have such chances, and we were in a very difficult position in the first half. Before the game with Italy, everyone understands that we only need to win to get to the semifinals. Therefore, we need to go out with a cool head, take risks and do everything we can to create chances in both the first and second half, to have a balance - to play very carefully in defense, but also to find our chances in attack.
- How do you assess your next opponent, the Italian national team?
- We emphasize both the individual qualities of the Italians and the team qualities. Italy is one of those teams that stand apart in this tournament, it has very high-quality players who can solve an episode through individual actions. I can single out several performers. Pafundi and Camarda are young but very talented. The entire attacking group in Italy is very strong.
- Do you look at the standings and calculate the options under which Ukraine can reach the semifinals?
- I don't look at it. It's easy to calculate everything there. Everything is clear here. It is important for us to focus on our own game and our own qualities and how we can improve them in such a short time.
- What is the mood and attitude within the team?
- I really like the mood of the guys now, I like how they communicate, how they believe in themselves, they say they have a good feeling, that they feel both confidence and strength to win. This is very important, without it you shouldn't even go out on the field. Only faith and confidence will allow us to win.
- This is the first major tournament for the boys and for you as a coach, how does the Euro feel?
- First of all, it's a responsibility. You realize that at this moment you are representing the whole country, which is at war, and there are many fans behind you. This is an additional motivation. And when it all starts, everything is very intense: games, theory, someone gets sick, someone gets injured... And there is no time to think about anything else. Only at about 12 am do you call your family and friends. Everything is very fast, very intense. It's a blitz tournament, and it's important that everyone is healthy first and foremost, you think about this all the time, about the guys. But it's a very interesting experience because everyone lives together, you see everyone all the time, you communicate with the guys, with the coaches of other teams, and the rivals see each other. This is an interesting format of the tournament.
- The Euro is a platform for scouts, an opportunity to watch young players. In your opinion, who from the youth national team of Ukraine can show the greatest progress in the near future and interest the top clubs?
- It is true. The Euro is a fair. Yesterday we watched the match between France and Denmark, and out of 600 fans in the stands, 50% were with notebooks, laptops, writing something down. These are scouts looking at the new generation of players. And this is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself. As for our players, I wouldn't want to single anyone out. There are players who have a lot of potential and who are very close to adult football primarily in terms of their mentality. They are all talented, of course, but they will be driven by character and a stable psyche. They must clearly understand their goal, what they want from their career. I am sure that there are players here who will soon be able to help the national team.