Ukrainian coach Ruslan Kostyshyn analyzed the match of the 2nd round of the Nations League Czech Republic - Ukraine (3:2), which took place yesterday in Prague.
- After the defeat in the game against Albania, in what psychological state did our players approach the match with the Czech Republic?
- It seems to me that our players approached the match with the Czech Republic in a fighting mood. Yes, after the defeat against Albania there was plenty of criticism of our guys. Of course, our guys were nervous and all wanted to rehabilitate themselves, because in the Ukrainian press our players were simply trashed. And the coaching staff was responsible for the fact that our national team players as in the best possible condition approached the meeting.
- In the starting lineup of the Ukraine national team we saw big changes, if we compare the games with Albania and Czech Republic, six new players. Is it a normal reaction of Serhiy Rebrov to the failure with Albania?
- The coaching staff had to take into account the physical condition of each player - these indicators are always taken into account, and the matches were separated by several days. Stepanenko's appearance on the field was readable - Czech players are quite powerful and athletic, against them you need to play often in the low block.
- How do you remember the first half?
- Again the first half left a double impression. Already by the fifth minute we could have expected to score. Vanat could have made better use of the defender's mistake and opened the scoring. I think that in the Ukrainian championship he would have scored a goal. But here the nerve of the match prevented him, and perhaps he lacked experience.
By the 10th minute, the hosts got used to their stadium and took the initiative in their hands. Here I want to move away from the soccer itself and say a word of thanks to our fans, who were the real hosts in the stands in Prague. They were visible and well heard, but the Czech fans were in a numerical minority.
Continuing the theme of soccer, gradually our defensive players were pressed into the penalty area and we started to make mistakes again. In the 21st minute Shaparenko probably did not want to kick the ball to the corner, being close to Trubin's goal. It all ended with the selection of the ball and conceded goal. Soon Zinchenko made a gross mistake in his own penalty area - such mistakes are not usually forgiven in Europe.
Our return goal was beautiful. Probably, in this attack our players made 12 accurate passes in a row and everything ended with a great cross into the penalty area from Shaparenko to Vanat. Vladislav scored for the national team for the first time. By the way, we noticed that Shaparenko and Sudakov are more comfortable playing in the left-side zone, closer to Mudryk's position. There happens some skew and the coaching staff needs to find optimal positions for our midfield leaders. And this is also an important factor that will help the Ukraine national team to play better.
- However, we failed to go to the break with a draw....
- Yes. At the score 1:1 we again rolled back, although we will not minimize the merit of the Czech players. Aggression of Czech players - and again we made mistakes at our goal. Stepanenko unsuccessfully kicked out to the center of the penalty area and a player of the hosts ran up and shot powerfully past Trubin.
Here I want to quote the words of the head coach of the Czech Republic Ivan Hasek: "Perhaps we thought we would play in a well-made suit, but we had to put on work overalls, dig into the ground and fight, compensating for the problems with the game". These words say a lot, because three days ago in Tbilisi, the Czech national team was defeated.
- Why didn`t Sergei Rebrov make substitutions until the 69th minute of the game? We were losing...
- It is difficult to give an answer to this question, Rebrov decides everything here. I would like to note that Andriy Yarmolenko's substitution was necessary - he could not keep up with the intensity of the game.
- Do you think that the penalty in the gate of our national team was awarded, rightly, by the Scottish referee?
- I think so. Matvienko did not play with his head, the ball hit his hand. If the ball had ricocheted from his head into his hand, then it would have been a different matter.
- After the match I read the opinion that by leaving Sudakov and Tsygankov on the bench, our coaching staff knocked the gold dust off them. What do you say about it?
- I do not think that Serhiy Rebrov brought up Sudakov and Tsygankov in such a way. We had Zinchenko on the bench in the game with Albania. Let's put it this way - we have a healthy competition in midfield. Someone will still be on the bench. There is competition in attack - Yaremchuk, Vanat and Dovbik are trying to prove themselves in training. Although it is not easy for Dovbik now - adaptation in Italian soccer is difficult for him.
But I would like to support all our players - they are the best now in Ukraine. To criticize, and indiscriminately, is the easiest. As for Serhiy Rebrov, I think he would prefer to work as a club coach. Where you have to work every day. And in the Ukraine national team everyone meets once a month or even once every two months. What can you train there? One recovery training, a pre-match game - and into action.
- If we look at the standings of Group B1, we will see an unsightly picture - the Ukraine national team is in last place with zero points. In October we have nominally home matches in Poland with Georgia and Czech Republic. Do we still have a chance to take first place in the group?
- I still have faith in it. If we beat the Georgian team and the Czech team, we will get into the fight for first place. Everyone understands - we can not lose any more points.
I will give an example of the Georgian national team, which has two victories in our group. I watched the review of the match in Tirana - Albania - Georgia. In a rather difficult match, the Georgians believed in their strengths and really wanted to win and in the end, they succeeded. Our guys still lack it. As for the situation in general, we have the main task - to get to the World Championship 2026. In the spring qualifying games will begin and there everything will be seen whether our coaching staff will cope with this task.