Honored Coach of Ukraine Myron Markevych told us what he expects from the match between Ukraine and Albania in the 1st round of the League of Nations, which will take place today in Prague.
Myron Markevych. Photo — fckarpaty.org.ua"Albania doesn't play very flashy, but quite reliable football. Even Spain, the European champion, scored only one goal against them."
- Myron, according to bookmakers and the overwhelming majority of experts and fans, Ukraine is the undisputed favorite in the game against Albania. Do you share this opinion?
- Of course, Ukraine is the favorite. It's unequivocal. There is nothing to talk about, but it will not be easy to beat Albania. It's not an easy team. They have a good generation. And let's not forget that, like Ukraine, Albania played at Euro 2024 and performed very well there, playing in the same group as Italy (1-2), Spain (0-1) and Croatia (2-2).
- Is Albania the weakest team in our quartet?
- I don't think so, in our group, only the Czech Republic stands out for its level of play, and Georgia and Albania are somewhere on the same level.
Albania may not play very flashy football, but it's quite reliable when it comes to defense. Spain, the European champion, scored only one goal against them. Albania presses well, and there are technical players there.
- Can you single out anyone from the Albanian team?
- Of course, we all know Seferi, who played for Vorskla. There is a striker from Chelsea (Armando Broya, who was recently loaned to Mykolenko's club Everton, but he was injured on the eve of the match with Ukraine). They have an experienced goalkeeper (Tomas Strakosha from AEK). In general, Albania is strong with its team play, I would say. This team is unyielding.
"The position of a holding midfielder in the national team of Ukraine is the most problematic. That's why Rebrov is forced to rely on Sydorchuk and Stepanenko."
- Do you think that Rebrov will change what he tried to instill in the national team for Euro 2024, that is, a rather pragmatic football, where the result is the most important thing, and we will again see five defenders and one striker?
- It's hard to answer this question... Rebrov has definitely analyzed the performance at the European Championship and made conclusions. We see that there are newcomers to the Ukrainian team. Oleksandr Pikhalonok returned to the camp of the national team. Vladyslav Kabaev was called up from Dynamo. Both players are creative, focused on attacking.
I don't think we should expect big changes in the starting lineup. Rebrov only has to determine who is in what condition and start the best players at the moment, regardless of their names. Our coach has called up all the best players for the September matches of the League of Nations, all those who are known, so to speak.
- Recently, Rebrov has been accused of not rejuvenating the national team. For example, why does Ukraine need an aged Serhiy Sydorchuk from the mediocre Belgian club Westerlo?
- The position of a holding midfielder in the Ukrainian national team is the most problematic. That's why Rebrov is forced to rely on ageing but proven players. The same Sidorchuk or Taras Stepanenko. Volodymyr Brazhko is growing up, but so far... There is no worthy replacement for our veteran supporters.
As for rejuvenation, of course, fresh blood needs to be injected. However, we should not do rejuvenation for the sake of rejuvenation, that is, call anyone because they are just young. What good will it do?
"We have a good striker in Krasnopir growing up, but in the UPL it's hard to name at least a few players who have made a name for themselves"
- Which of the youngsters would you personally call up to the national team?
- We have a good striker Ihor Krasnopir growing up. He started the season well at Rukh. Probably him.
And so, if we are talking about the Ukrainian Premier League, it is difficult to name at least a few performers who would loudly declare themselves and deserve to play for our main team of the country. There is no player in the UPL who plays well, and for some reason he has not been called up to the national team now.
Oleksandr Filippov of Oleksandriya, who scored three goals for Shakhtar, is a good forward. But he is already over thirty, so he does not fit the category of rejuvenation.
The main task for the national team of Ukraine in the coming years is to make it to the 2026 World Cup, and perhaps at this time of the Nations League, Rebrov will give newcomers, including young players, a chance. You see, they will ask Rebrov, not you and me. So it is up to him to decide who to call up to the national team and who not to.
- Dovbyk will not help Ukraine in the matches against Albania and the Czech Republic. How significant is this loss, given the fact that Artem is not on fire right now and that Rebrov prefers to play with one striker?
- Dovbyk's absence is a painful loss, but you are right that Ukraine plays with one forward. So, I'm sure Yaremchuk can adequately replace Dovbyk in the matches against Albania and the Czech Republic. Roman looked very solid at the Euros, scoring an important goal against Slovakia (2:1).
And yes, there is also Vanat. Vladyslav showed good form at the beginning of the championship. He scored against Salzburg and Partizan in the Champions League qualifiers.
I said that Ukraine has problems with its full-backs, but we are not doing well with good strikers either. There are not enough of them.
- Will Yaremchuk benefit from moving to Olympiacos, where he will most likely have more playing practice compared to the time he had at Valencia?
- Yaremchuk is an experienced player. Of course, it is not advisable to compare the level of the Greek and Spanish championships, La Liga is much stronger, but... In the Greek Super League, Yaremchuk will not be sad. There is Panathinaikos, AEK, PAOK. Crazy fans. I hope Roman will have enough playing time, get a foothold in the team and score consistently. It's too early to make predictions, we'll see... God willing, Yaremchuk will play. That's what I wish him.
- Myron Markevych's prediction for Ukraine vs Albania:
- I think our guys will win with a difference of one goal. The score will be either 1-0 or 2-1 in favor of Ukraine. We have to win.
Viktor Glukhenkyi.
