Former Ukraine defender Vyacheslav Shevchuk told us what he expects from the Czech Republic vs. Ukraine match of the 2nd round of the Nations League, which will take place today in Prague.
- Viacheslav, both the Czechs and our national team, which is the most unfortunate thing, started the competition in the League of Nations with defeats. And while Ukraine lost to Albania minimally, Ivan Hashek's team was simply torn apart by Georgia (4:1). Given these results and the desire of both national teams to rehabilitate, who do you think is the favorite in the face-to-face duel?
- I'll tell you in general - in my opinion, there is no clear favorite in our group at all. Accordingly, in the head-to-head match between the Czech Republic and Ukraine, too. It's a classic 50-50 split if we're talking about the chances of winning.
However, both the hosts and our guys will be highly motivated, as both teams will try to correct the results of the first matches and rehabilitate for the defeats.
It is important not to forget that the Nations League is not a passing tournament. It is thanks to the results in the Nations League that Ukraine qualified for Euro 2024. Winning the group can allow Ukraine not only to rise to League A, but also, under certain circumstances, to facilitate its entry into the 2026 World Cup. This is well understood by both the players and our head coach Serhii Rebrov.
- As for Serhiy Stanislavovych, he hasn't had such an obstruction for a long time as after the 1-2 defeat against Albania. Fans of the Blue and Yellows almost demanded that the UAF fire him. There was a lot of criticism.
- Of course, I also expected more from our team in the match against Albania. I didn't think we would lose, but Albania is a really good team. Ukraine lost to a strong team with many players from leading European championships. A difficult and worthy opponent. So Ukrainians should not be humiliated for the defeat.
Silvigno's team's previous results also speak for them. They won the fight in their group at Euro 2024, took first place, ahead of the Czechs and Poland (as well as Moldova and the Faroe Islands).
Almost all the players there are from European championships. Most of them seem to be from Serie A (five players - Husay, Ismaili, Asllani, Ramadani and Sherry), and a couple of players from La Liga (Ballu and Kumbula).
At Euro 2024, Italy narrowly defeated Albania (2:1). They have a good, organized team. They have a lot of enthusiasm, passion, I would say. And perhaps these are the qualities that Ukraine lacks somewhere. Therefore, it is not correct to criticize Rebrov too much for the defeat against this team.
- Albania is already history. Until November, at least, when we play the second game with them in Tirana. How would you describe the Czech team? As for me, there are even more players with European names there.
- The Czech Republic is a fairly powerful and physically strong team. They practice what they call vertical football. Therefore, we are expecting a really difficult game in Prague.
As for the players, yes, there are some big names there, but, as for me, the Czech Republic stands out for its team play. I don't like to single out any one player or leader. Although, of course, we shouldn't forget about the striker Patrick Schick from Bayer Leverkusen(the best scorer of the Czech national team in history - ed.) and the duo from English West Ham consisting of defender Vladimir Zoufal and midfielder Tomas Soucek.
I'm sure that Rebrov's coaching staff has already analyzed the Czech Republic as a whole and each of its players individually. Our guys need to know how and against whom to play, taking into account the strengths of a particular opponent. In modern football, it is difficult to hide anything anymore. Broadcasts, slices on the net. Everything is available! We just need the right coaches to convey the right information to the players, our players, and that's it.
- Should we expect a rotation from Rebrov?
- Probably, yes. There are plenty of players to choose from in this Ukrainian squad, there is competition between players. Most likely, right now Rebrov has not yet decided which eleven will start. We need to understand who is in what condition, possible microtraumas, etc.
Against Albania, Zinchenko started as a reserve, but he can play both left back and in the center. Perhaps against the Czech Republic, Oleksandr will start. Ruslan Malinowski also came on as a substitute in the previous game... It's hard to predict now. There is enough competition in the middle line. On the day of the match we will find out the lineup. But, again, I think there will be changes.
- Probably, there is no doubt that Trubin will be on the last line.
- I agree. We can see that Anatoliy is progressing from season to season, growing and improving his skills. He is a stable and psychologically stable goalkeeper. If he makes mistakes, they are very few. I'm not afraid to say that today Trubin is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.
- After the match against Albania, many experts, with Viktor Leonenko standing aside, noted that Ukraine with Mudryk and without Mykhailo were almost two different teams.
- Mudryk is undoubtedly an important player. However, there are no irreplaceable ones. Mykhailo's injury, and I wish him a speedy recovery, is a great opportunity for our other midfielders to prove themselves.
- As for the other midfielders. Sudakov and Shaparenko received a lot of hate for the pale game against Albania, as they did almost nothing in the center and did not bring Yaremchuk any projectiles. Is the criticism useful?
- Criticism is necessary, but only constructive. Sudakov and Shaparenko themselves realize that somewhere they did not play as expected, but they are both professionals. They must understand that there will always be criticism after losing matches, and they need to take it in stride. That is, to draw the right conclusions and improve, correct themselves and prove that that match, using Albania as an example, was a mistake. We analyzed it, corrected ourselves, and became better - that's what all great professionals do.
- Is Ukraine's most problematic link the defense, which regularly "brings" goals in standard positions?
- You shouldn't put all the blame on the defenders. Yes, when the team loses, most of the questions are directed at the defenders, but, as for me, the whole team has to work on defense. All ten players. And not when they lose the ball in the attack and someone allows himself to slowly return.
In the match against Albania, both conceded goals were a chain of mistakes. You can analyze them in detail, under a microscope, and understand who is most to blame, but I would not want to single out anyone individually in a negative light.
- The trio of the main veterans of our national team, Yarmolenko, Stepanenko and Sydorchuk, what do you think of them? Some people are already advising them to retire, while others say that there is simply no one to replace them and they will play until the 2026 World Cup.
- Yarmolenko and Stepanenko are 34 and 35 years old, respectively. Sydorchuk is 33. And I finished my career at 37, and at 36 I played for Ukraine at the Euros. And I felt great in terms of physics. I would have continued to play if I hadn't gotten injured - I tore my posterior tendon. It was a specific injury. I had to finish...
All our veterans are great professionals with invaluable experience. Yes, somewhere they are not so fast anymore, but believe me, Yarmolenko, Stepanenko and Sydorchuk are needed by this team. Rebrov would not have called them up for nothing.
Let's look at Luka Modric. He's 39 years old, for a second, and he's still playing in Real Madrid. Such a player, with such experience, does not need 90 minutes of time, 10-15 minutes may be enough for him: he came on the field, gave a goal pass or scored himself due to his skill. That's all. Is such a player, even if he is old, superfluous? Does he not fit into the team?
Older players, veterans are also very important for a favorable microclimate in the team. We should not forget about this either. It's too early to write off Yarmolenko, Stepanenko or Sydorchuk.
- Vyacheslav Shevchuk's prediction for the Czech Republic vs Ukraine game.
- I don't like this business of making predictions. I'm sure that our guys are determined only to achieve a positive result and will give their all to win.
Viktor Glukhenkyi