The Ukrainian national team will play two matches in the League of Nations in September. These matches will take place in Prague. On September 7, in the 1st round, the Blue and Yellows will host Albania at the Epet Arena, and on September 10, they will play an away match against the Czech Republic at the Eden Arena. Footboom asked Oleh Shelayev, a former player of the Ukrainian national team and a participant in the 2006 World Cup, to share his expectations of our national team's performance in the League of Nations.
Oleg Shelayev
- "Participation in the League of Nations is a new story for our national team," Shelayev said. "All the talk about anger at the unsuccessful performance at Euro 2024 or about some kind of debt to the fans is now inappropriate. If we were playing Romania, then something like this could be thought of... However, fans talk about it more, and the pros should not talk much and do their job at the best level. The whole history of the Ukrainian national team is ups and downs, so now a new stage is coming. Moreover, the rivals in the League of Nations are of a different level.
- Were you not surprised by the application of the Ukrainian national team for the matches against Albania and the Czech Republic?
- It is the coach's right to determine the squad. But everyone else also has the right to ask Serhiy Rebrov for this choice. Why, for example, was Sydorchuk called up and not Hutsulyak? Why Nazarenko is not even on the reserve list... And why Stepanenko, who has not played for Shakhtar recently, was called up again. Rebrov has to explain all this.
- Serhii Rebrov drew attention to the fatigue of Dynamo Kyiv players, who, however, had a good game practice...
- Of course, there may be some concerns. It is possible that the coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine has already received some tests. It is important whether these are visual findings or conclusions based on a medical examination. If we are not talking about Dynamo players, the situation with the game load is not so good there... This can be both a plus and a minus. Serhiy Rebrov and his staff need to somehow harmonize all this - to determine the starting lineup in a balanced way.
- What do you think about the situation with Dovbyk - about his injury, and about Rebrov's decision not to bring another forward to the national team?
- Any player, despite a club injury, must come to the national team when called upon. I suspect that Dovbyk had an injury at Roma, but he was called up to the national team, where he should be examined, given a medical examination, talked to, and only then released
As for Dovbyk's replacement, as I understand it, all hopes are on Roman Yaremchuk for the Nations League matches. He has been the forward who could replace Dovbyk before, a big, powerful striker. However, in my opinion, Hutsulyak could help the Ukrainian national team in the attack. It would be interesting to see Krasnopir in the national team and give him a chance to prove himself.
- How serious are the rivals of the national team of Ukraine at the start of the League of Nations, and in general, how do you feel about this tournament?
- I think it will be more difficult for our national team against the Czech Republic. At the club level, the Czechs are proving that their football is on the rise. Just remember the recent European Cup matches between Kryvbas and Czech Victoria. It was a high-quality power football game. The League of Nations should be treated as a tournament through which you can qualify for the 2026 World Cup. That is, there is a chance, and, accordingly, there must be a level of play and a fighting squad.
Oleg Semenchenko
