Yuriy Syvukha: "Players like Zinchenko and Malinowski are fading away..."

Former Ukraine goalkeeping coach Yurii Syvukha shared his impressions of yesterday's match of the 1st round of the 2024/25 Nations League Ukraine - Albania (1-2).

- " We all usually expect only victory from the Ukrainian national team, but everything happens in football, " Syvukha said. " The Nations League is not a top tournament, teams play with the squad and watch the youth. Yes, the League of Nations has come up with an incentive in the form of an opportunity to make it to the World Cup, but there is no special mood for this competition

As for the Ukrainian national team, this is, of course, not its most successful game. Rebrov's team tried to act positively, to stretch the opponent's defense, but it did not work. The Ukrainians played slowly. Long passes led to nothing. There was also a lack of technique - instead of one necessary touch of the ball, there were two, and the Albanians managed to block everything and rebuild. In my opinion, these are the problems of our children's football - that's why everything comes out at this level.

- Did Albania play better?

- The Albanians surprised me. They did a lot of necessary physical work. Their functional readiness is on top. In addition, the Albanian national team worked well with the ball.

- Will the Blue and Yellows' coaching staff draw sharp conclusions after this defeat, a kind of elimination?

- There will be no relegation, and there shouldn't be. We do not have the best performers at the moment. Who has been called up to the national team of Ukraine? All those who play abroad, plus representatives of the UPL. However, you can see that there are questions about the level of our championship, given the war and all the current difficulties... Therefore, there is no need to scold Serhiy Rebrov now. He is doing what he can. In our country, only Lobanovsky and Shevchenko were not scolded for their work with the national team, and other coaches were initially fascinated, and then disappointed.

- As a former goalkeeper, what do you think of Trubin's performance?

- He played well, and he is not to blame for the goals he conceded. Trubin used to have certain moments... But now he understands perfectly well where to come out of the gate and where to play on the line. As for the goals conceded, we can only blame the defenders. Our defenders lost virtually all the fight during corner kicks, as did the Albanians, by the way... Unfortunately, the defenders of the national team of Ukraine in such situations for some reason look at the ball, not at the opponents.

- How timely and successful were Rebrov's substitutions?

- They could have happened earlier. However, substitutions could not affect the philosophy of the game. The coach determined the strategy and the team stuck to it. The changes in the 72nd minute, I think, were in the hope of tiring the Albanians, they say, there is a chance to press them, to make them make a mistake somewhere. But, once again, the Albanian national team surprised and managed to keep a high pace for the entire 90 minutes.

- Are there any players in the Ukrainian national team whose performance particularly disappointed you?

- Matvienko did not play well. The Albanians created several chances because of his unsuccessful actions, and he played over his own edge, which was quite monotonous and ineffective. As for Brazko, this sometimes happens - not his match, and that's it... So he dropped out of the game. In this case, the player needs to be replaced.

- What should and can be improved in the actions of the national team?

- The speed of working with the ball, the need to make penetrating passes. Remember how we scored a goal. There was a pass in the cut, forward, and Konoplya hit the opponent's goal. We need to get rid of fiddling with the ball. This style involves completing combinations when opponents are confused, drowsy, disoriented, but not all opponents get tired, and not all defenses fall apart... Albania did not fall apart. What else have we seen? The fact that such performers as Zinchenko and Malinowski are fading away... Probably, their cycle has passed, and young people will knock on the first team. Now we have a very good youth team.

- The Czech national team lost to Georgia and will probably be angry in the home match with Ukraine...

- That's what I mean about a tournament like the League of Nations - not everyone treats it responsibly. The Czech national team traveled to Georgia a little bit relaxed, saying that it was not the Euros... And Georgians are known to play very motivated and strong at home. However, it seems to me that the Ukrainian national team will have time to correct and improve a lot of things before the match with the Czechs. The game of Rebrov's team on September 10 will be different.

Oleg Semenchenko