The famous Dnipro midfielder of the 80s Eduard Son shared his impressions of Euro-2024.
Eduard Sohn- What are your impressions of Euro 2024?
- To be honest, I didn't like the French team's performance at all. I was impressed by the Georgians, especially their player Khvicha Kvaratskhvelia. I think he could have been given the best player of Euro-2024. He was really one of the best. Of course, the Spaniards deservedly became European champions. Throughout the entire championship they played in a champion-like manner. In some moments I liked the game of the German national team, but they fell a little short.
- What do you think about the game of the national team of Ukraine?
- I did not see the match with Romania - I was on the road. People called me and complained that goalkeeper Lunin played badly. He let the team down, two missed goals are on his conscience. This match spoiled everything for us. We did not get out of the group by goal difference. The second match with Slovakia, in some moments, the Ukraine national team looked good. Well, and with the Belgians it was hard for us to snatch victory.
- They say that Euro-2024 was not spectacular. They also called it a tournament of tired stars. What is your assessment of what you saw?
- I have the same impression. The leaders of teams, for example France - Griezmann and Mbappe disappointed by how toothless and weak-willed they played. I did not like the French team, well, except for the defense line, they really had a good.
- The most criticism went to England.
- You know, the England national team played the way the Portugal national team played in France at Euro 2016. The Portuguese didn't play well. Everyone was spitting on their game, but in the end they became European champions. So England, a little bit like Portugal. They didn't play very nicely, but they beat everyone. It's a bit of a shame England didn't win the title. Last time they lost in the final, and this time too. They have never become European champions, they only won silver and bronze.
- Many believe that after Euro 2024 soccer will not follow the path preached by the Spaniards, but towards the viscous and reliable defense, counting on counterattacks and mistakes of opponents. What do you think about this?
- Now, in modern soccer, the ball is mostly rolling around in the back, in their own half of the field. Footballers make a lot of unnecessary passes, but there are very few escalations. Few pronounced feints, individual moves to beat the opponent. Long ball rolling, for example, irritates me, and even pisses me off. You can get the ball facing the goal and immediately continue the attack. But the players don't even look forward. When they receive the ball, they immediately pass it back.
I never liked that kind of soccer. Fans go to the stadium to watch a spectacular game. And here there is no play, no shots on goal. I watched the game of the Olympics Argentina - Ukraine, you know, only a few moments when the Argentines and our team could score. I can not imagine how the average person who came to the stadium in 37 degree heat, watching 90 minutes of the team rolling the ball on their half of the field. Soccer should be spectacular - attacking.
- Was soccer played differently in your soccer years?
- Me, definitely. I liked technical, attacking, team soccer. I'm a striker by profession. Of course, I wanted your team to attack more. Fortunately, I got to Dnipro. In a strong team, where I had more opportunities to show myself in attack. Now I analyze everything, and I think: if I was in another, mediocre team then, I probably would not have achieved everything in soccer that I have achieved.
Alexander Petrov
