Former Ukraine national team defender Volodymyr Mykytin shared his impressions of the match of the 1st round of the 2024/25 Nations League Ukraine - Albania (1:2).
- The game was expected. We wanted to see something different from our players. Yes, there was good ball control, but nothing more than that. In the first 45 minutes there were no shots, and only before the break, we saw the first shot, when Yaremchuk sharpened the attack. The opponent was sitting deep, and we had to look for chances to strike, but there were none. There were attempts to play through the flank with passes into the penalty area, but the Albanian defenders easily coped with the crosses. The first half went like that.
- In the first half Albanians blocked everything, not allowing to do anything at their goal. But at the same time they created three chances, of which they could have realized at least one.
- Yes, the Albanian team built the game in such a way as to deprive our players of space and leave one striker Yaremchuk, who was not visible. As I said, just one moment for a forward is not enough. It should be noted that this moment occurred when there was space in the defense. The opponent acted very competently in defense, saturated the areas near the goal with a large number of players, quickly after the attacks went behind the ball, which created difficulties for penetration into the penalty area.
- In terms of individual qualities the Ukrainian team is stronger, but in terms of teamwork it was weaker, right?
- We can agree, but we conceded on the scoreline. Soccer is a collective game, where individual qualities are shown in difficult moments. Unfortunately, we had neither of them.
- After 0:3 with the Romanians, we cannot say that the players went to the game underestimating the opponent. What was not enough to complete the victory? Character, sports anger?
- Our team played the first half weakly, but at the beginning of the second half they came on the field and started to play more aggressively. As a result - we scored a goal, and there were more shots, and the game was different. It's bad that we scored and slowed down the pace, immediately conceded, allowing the opponent to feel confident. And in the second half we played sluggishly at the standards at our goal. We practically lost a lot of one-on-one battles and aerial duels. There is still a lot of work in this component.
- We talk a lot about the Albanian national team. In physical terms, the team looked good?
- Albania deserved to win, the organization of the game in defense was at the highest level. With clear actions in defense they came out in dangerous counterattacks. In this match they did everything. They played great, used their chances.
- What do you think of Kabaev's debut in this match?
- It was at a good level. In the first half he acted aggressively and confidently enough. However, sometimes he rushed with passes into the penalty area, we could have held the ball, so that more players had time to saturate the opponent's penalty area. But in general, the debut was successful.
- Two days later the game against the Czech Republic. After Georgia "took out" the Czechs 4:1, a wounded beast is doubly dangerous.
- We need to play aggressively from the beginning. Not like against Albania, the opponent sat deep, we roll the ball, lull ourselves to sleep, and then we can not wake up after hibernation. Let's hope that the players will rehabilitate for the defeat and please Ukrainian soccer fans.
Sergiy Shebek