Head coach of the national team of Ukraine Serhii Rebrov on the UAF YouTube channel told what he expects from the opening matches of the national team in the League of Nations of the 2024/25 season - against Albania (September 7) and the Czech Republic (September 10).
- A new cycle of the Ukrainian national team is beginning: the fight to reach the World Cup. Is the League of Nations a serious stage in this cycle?
- I believe that now any game of the Ukrainian national team is very serious. I told the players that. It doesn't matter what status the tournament is. Even friendly matches are very important. But I will remind you that we got to Euro 2024 thanks to the League of Nations. And the guys understand this. Even though these matches are more friendly: they can help you get to the World Cup. So I am sure that we will take this tournament very seriously.
- What would you say about the strength of our rivals in the Nations League group?
- All these teams played at Euro 2024. We have a lot of information about these teams. By the way, only Georgia got to the Euros through the playoffs: The Czech Republic and Albania went there directly. That's why we take these teams very seriously. And it makes no difference who we play against. We showed this in the matches of the Euro 2024 qualifying cycle. We have to think about ourselves and prepare very seriously.
- Are you satisfied with the list of players you called up for the September matches of the League of Nations?
- Unfortunately, the guys didn't have much practice in the Ukrainian championship. Yes, Dynamo got a lot of matches, and I believe that it is mostly Dynamo players who are in good shape now. Even though they are tired, I am happy that they had a game practice.
Yes, there are some injuries, but I am satisfied with the players who are now in the national team. The first training days show that they are really serious.
- To what extent have you seen that Dynamo's players have gained more confidence due to the results in the Champions League qualifiers?
- Any successful matches in Europe give players confidence. And I believe that Dynamo passed the first two rounds of the Champions League qualifiers with enough confidence. Therefore, I am pleased that Dynamo not only started European games, but also played them confidently enough.
Unfortunately, the team didn't get past Salzburg, but I saw both games with this opponent, and I believe that Kyiv failed to get past them only because they didn't realize the chances they created. But it is very important to create chances. And I think Dynamo is creating chances now, and the team has a balance in attack and defense.
- The Ukrainian national team's performance at Euro 2024 ended with a certain ambiguity: for the first time in history, the team did not advance to the next round, having scored four points in the group. Do you feel any sporting anger in the players of the national team of Ukraine, both at themselves and, perhaps, at the result that was demonstrated?
- Let's see. I always say: you can show something in training, but it is very important to show it in games. This anger, this dissatisfaction with the result (first of all, with the result, because everyone understands that we are not satisfied with the result) must be proved on the field. So we need to go out in the Nations League, prove all this and achieve the necessary result.
- Do you think Dovbyk's move from Girona to Roma is a promotion for the player? How much will this move help the Ukrainian national team?
- I can't say. But I am sure that when a player moves to another club, it is his desire: he wants to develop, he wants to change the situation. Therefore, this is only Artem's decision. We make this decision, and I'm sure that when a player changes teams, it's new feelings, new motivation, and I hope, I'm sure that Artem will be fine and with his play at Roma he will prove that he is a potential candidate for the Ukrainian national team.
- If we talk about the Albanian national team, the closest rival of the Ukrainian national team, what is the danger of this team and what can we expect from it?
- I think that the Albanian national team was a little unlucky with the draw for Euro 2024: all the teams in their group were of a very high level and in almost all the matches the Albanians defended very much and, in my opinion, very well. But they played very confidently in the qualifying round. They have a very intense team, all the players play in Europe, almost the entire first team plays in the Italian championship. That's why we take this team very seriously. And I am sure that this team has not yet reached its potential. And it has a very big potential.
- There is a short period of time between the matches with Albania and the Czech Republic. How do you balance the team properly in such a short time and approach the two matches in good shape?
- We already have this experience: all year long we played in this mode, two days later on the third. So it's not new to us, and that's why we call up a few more players. We know how to prepare, but no one knows what condition the players are in now. For example, Dynamo players: they played a lot of matches, they are really tired now. So even in the training process, we try to find a balance, we try to give Dynamo players a little rest, because they had a lot of traveling, a lot of games. I am sure that even now, at the beginning of the season, the players are tired. So let's see after the first match what condition the guys will be in.
- Is the fact that both of these matches will be held in Prague a logistical plus for our national team?
- Yes, we have previously discussed where we will play. And I believe that this is the best option, to play two matches here, not to move anywhere. As I said, now any European Cup game for Shakhtar and Dynamo means a lot of traveling. I hope that here, when we will be in the same hotel for almost a week, the guys will not only train but also have a rest at the same time.
- On Tuesday, there was a tragedy in Ukraine: more than 50 people were killed in Poltava. How does this affect the training process?
- Unfortunately, we live in such an atmosphere: against an aggressor who is really trying to destroy our entire country. I just express my support to all the people who have suffered. And I am sure that all the players of the national team will play with such emotions to show that Ukraine is alive and that we will fight.
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