Last week, the most interesting soccer battles unfolded in the national championships of European countries, which have already gained momentum, as well as in the main round of the Europa League, which started recently.
Photo — fcdynamo.comUPL: "Dynamo on top
The Ukrainian Premier League this weekend managed to pass the equator of the first round and is getting more and more intriguing. Within its 8th round there were several very interesting and important matches, including a new capital derby between Left Bank and Dynamo.
This match completed the competitive part of the last weekend, in which earlier Alexandria managed to beat Kryvbas (1:0) and again lead the standings, while Shakhtar, who continue to lose points, settled for a draw in the game with Veres (1:1).
As for the meeting between the two Kyiv teams, there was no question about its favorite. But media representatives were clearly alarmed by the current super-load of Dynamo players, who for the last two months, as they say, have been living on wheels, playing two matches a week:
"Obviously, Vitaliy Pervak's team was expecting to take care of the international obligations of Oleksandr Shovkovs'kyi's players, who had not yet been able to sort out the nerves from the recent trip to Germany for the UEFA Europa League match against Latsio from Rome, and then immediately after the game we had to go to the capital's train station and get ready for the return trip to the game against German Hoffenheim (Sport.ua, 29.09.24).
However, we should give credit to Oleksandr Shovkovskiy. Obviously, he was ready for such a merciless marathon: from the very beginning of the season the Dynamo coach has been very competently distributing the playing load between the players, boldly conducting active rotation of the squad.
The coach did not change himself this time, which did not prevent his team to get a confident enough victory (3:0) and extend the winless streak in UPL up to 9 games.
"We work in regular mode, we go from match to match, - explained Shovkovskiy his personnel policy at a press conference. - Of course, we rotate: we want all the players to be in good playing shape. It is important that each of them had the necessary level of training and feel of the game. You can control yourself in the training process, but when you go on the field in matches, you must show everything to the maximum" (Fcdynamo.com, 30.09.24).
The media, watching Shovkovskiy varying the lineup, once again hold the thought about Dynamo's successful transfer campaign on the eve of the season-2024/25 and, of course, about the quality work of the club's Academy.
"Dynamo has a deep stock for the fight in the UPL and a coach who has ideas" , - such a summary of the reporting week was voiced, for example, in one of Oleksandr Sazhko's materials (Ua.twitter.com, 26.09.24).
Speaking about Sunday's events on the field of the stadium "Left Bank", the press emphasizes the fact that Dynamo dispelled any doubts about their form and mood already in the opening of the game, opening the score in the eighth minute.
"The guests played a great game, - Taras Kotiv analyzes the episode. - Buyalskyi dribbled, Popov and Guerrero got lost in the power struggle "lelek", and after a cross from Karavaev from between the goalkeeper's box in front of the empty net Yarmolenko and Mikhavko fought with each other. The goal was recorded on the 19-year-old centerback, his debut goal in Dynamo soccer (Football24.ua, 29.09.24).
After the break Dynamo's advantage was reinforced by the goals of Brazhko (on the 61st minute he masterfully took advantage of the opponents' goalkeeper's "gift" and from the center circle launched the ball over his scruff) and Rubchynskyi (already in the compensated time he opened the account of goals for Dynamo with a shot from outside the penalty area). Besides, a couple of good chances were missed by Guerrero, who has not yet fully mastered the Dynamo attack, Yarmolenko's goal was not counted (minimal offside), and Buyalskiy's great shot hit the crossbar....
Yes, Levy Bereg also created their own chances, desperately trying to cling on to the game. So, in the 29th minute, Buschan parried the ball after an unexpected cutback by Mikhavko and a difficult shot by Sinitsa. And at the beginning of the second half, the hosts drew the visitors into the game on the counter-attack for some time. But in general, Dynamo controlled the match, winning the game "on class".
"Otzhe, Pidopichni Shovkovs'kyi won a black victory in the UPL, returning to the first place in the table. Thus, on the pitch of "Lviviy Bereg" Dynamo players did not demonstrate even a very impressive game, but again went into active rotation, thus saving the emotional and physical energy for the last European Cup match. It is also worth noting the long-overdue return to the field after injuries of two centerbacks - Popov and Dyachuk, who at the beginning of the season were considered the mainstay of the team's defense. This, insanely, strengthens its squad," - summed up the Kyiv derby columnist Denis Borysenko (Footclub.com.ua, 29.09.24).
Of the other matches of the 8th round as the central press highlights the previously mentioned match in Kryvyi Rih, where "Alexandria", took the upper hand over "Kryvbas", its main rival in the struggle for the status of "the third force of the UPL".
"Oleksandriya set a club record of seven matches without a loss since the start of the 2024/25 season in the Ukrainian Premier League. Now Oleksandriya have six wins and one draw. The team set the previous club record in the season 2018/19 under the leadership of Volodymyr Sharan - it started with an overpossible series, which lasted four matches" , - informs Suspilne.media/sport (29.09.24).
Thus, after seven matches Oleksandriya has an asset of 19 points - as well as Dynamo. But at the expense of additional indicators, the first line is still behind the Kyiv team.
The main sensation of the tour took place in Rivne, where Veres took advantage of Shakhtar's tightened match schedule and managed to snatch a draw. Unlike Dynamo, who have been playing literally on wheels since the start of the season, the Pitmen have just started to experience the forced logistical overload - and here is their first result....
At the same time, some media outlets also believe that Mariano Pusic's men failed to hold on to the victory for the reason that they mentally saw themselves already in Gelsenkirchen, where they will play their Champions League second round match against Italian side Atalanta on October 2. But it is unlikely that this argument will somehow rehabilitate the team, which has lost points in three of the seven UPL games played.
Europa League: the score - not the game
This week, on Thursday, October 3, Dynamo will play their next Eurocup game, which takes its course to Hoffenheim on Monday night. As for the start of Kyiv in the main net of the Europa League, it left contradictory feelings. In the game with Lazio, from the very beginning, everything spun not in our favor: not quite logical quick goal of the Romans, Seballos' injury in the right place.... And a 0:3 defeat in the end.
Studying the opinions expressed after the match by journalists and experts, it is easy to see that in addition to the outburst of excessive emotion, typical of our young reporters, on the pages of publications met and a considerable number of quite balanced and objective judgments.
This part of the observers took into account, in particular, considerable personnel problems of Dynamo: before the game there were problems with Buyalskiy, the main central defenders Popov and Dyachuk were not ready to take the field yet, having just recovered from injuries. And here, as a matter of spite, Seballos' injury, who showed himself well in the first matches for Dynamo. As a result, after an early substitution Bilovar, who has no experience in matches of this level, was paired with the very young Mihavko.
"Dynamo's defense center critically lacked experience, because when it is shaped by two young players, who recently played for the U-19 team, it can be a problem, " - Mykhailo Tsiruk rightly states (Khsport.ua, 26.09.24).
Naturally, everyone realizes how much the logistical problems complicate the tasks facing the team. After all, Dynamo has been playing on such a schedule for two months already! Holding home matches of European cups abroad and traveling back and forth in constant moves. In such conditions, it is difficult to count not only on a thorough training process, but also on full recovery of players, which is an extremely important factor in modern soccer with its intensity.
Even foreign media are speaking out on this topic. Here is how the authoritative Italian La Gazzetta Dello Sport sees the situation:
"This victory of Latsio is insanely connected with logistical problems that Kiyans have to deal with during matches in Europe. They do not play at home, and this is also a factor that should be taken into account and discounted. They spent 19 years on a bus trip from Kyiv to Hamburg" (Ua-football.com.com, 26.09.24).
And, by the way, hence the increased injury rate of players. About it in one voice say former players.
"Buyalskyy in Gambursi could have hoped for a place in the main, but he was injured, as the head coach said. Mikhailenko has not yet renewed. And Seballos got an injury in the first half. I think it's just one lancers - the team has a lot of travels and footballers are not able to resume", - believes Ivan Krivosheenko (Sportarena.com, 26.09.24).
"Seballos' injury is a moment of non-dovidnovleniya, m'yazovoe poshkodzhennya. Gravtsi a lot of hours in a sitting position, " - emphasizes and Sergei Kovalets (Ua.tribuna.com, 26.09.24).
Of course, in the context of this particular match, the level of the opponent cannot be ignored. Lazio, the vice-champion of Italy-2023, a priori surpasses Dynamo in the experience of high-heated matches, in the selection of performers - and, in principle, in all parameters. Besides, the Italians with their tactical skills are historically the most uncomfortable opponents for us. In particular, the official website of the UPL wrote about it:
"This is the 44th confrontation between the representatives of Ukraine and Italy in the UEFA club tournaments, and now we have only 6 positive results of these confrontations for us. Dynamo met with the Italian rivals in the European Cup 13 times and only 20 years ago it was able to deal with Roma: a 3-0 technical victory in Rome, a 2-0 victory in Kyiv" ( Upl.com, 26.09.24).
The media also recalled the statistics at the level of the national teams of Ukraine and Italy - we have only one draw with six defeats in official matches, the most memorable of which, by the way, took place in the same Hamburg in the summer of 2006. Then, in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, the Blue-Yellows, whose goal was defended by Shovkovskiy, also conceded a quick goal and also lost 0:3, although the game clearly deserved more....
Thus, as it was noted by the "Futbum" website, Dynamo fans had no illusions about the team's prospects in the matches with the opponents from the first basket (and this, besides Lazio, is also Roma). But, of course, everyone expected Kyiv to give Rome a fight. And in fact, not everything looked as clear as the score on the scoreboard.
Almost all sources give Dynamo credit in one way or another for the fact that Kyiv did not "park the bus" near their penalty area, but tried to combine, emphasizing on creation and attack. Moreover, it was not a situational reaction to a quick Roman goal, but the original plan for the game. Which is confirmed by Shovkovskiy's words:
"We could have closed, become 11 footballers in defense, but we wanted to play soccer and wanted to do it. We told the boys not to move away from our structure of the game..." (Obozrevatel.com, 26.09.24).
After a series of quite meaningful matches in the Champions League qualification, it was a natural inclination - to test all their capabilities against an even stronger opponent. And, as the press recognizes, there are many segments and episodes that Dynamo can credit to themselves, while the final score does not quite correspond to the events on the pitch.
"Dynamo possessed the ball in the match with Latsio 55% of the game time, conducted 39 attacks, the Romans have 30 attempts. The Romans have the advantage in shots - 14 against 11, " the Tribuna website uses statistical indicators. - The Ukrainian team scored more shots against the opponent's goal than the Italians - 7 against 6. "Dynamo gave 435 accurate passes out of 482 (90%), while Latsio had 352 out of 403 (87%). Both teams made 3 kutovi each.
Kijans made more crosses, but the Romans had more successful attempts - 5 out of 21 for Dynamo, 7 out of 15 for Lacio. Latsio's goalkeeper Ivan Provedel made 7 saves, 2 more shots were blocked. Dynamo goalkeeper Georgiy Buschan made 3 saves, 5 shots were blocked" (Ua.tribuna.com, 26.09.24).
The media recognize: the Romans succeeded more in dangerous attacks. But Kyiv also had chances to score - and more than once.
"Pidopichni Shovkovskiy created moments. At the end of the first half we managed to squeeze Latsio. At first, Pihalionok shot from 20 meters to the near post, then Brazhko hit the left side of the net from the standard, and a minute later Yarmolenko shot from outside the penalty box - all these shots were taken by Providel. Even at the compensated hour Brazhko shot from the line at the far bottom, but the ball went just in front of the post. In the second half, good longshots by Brazhok and Andriyevskyi were parried by Provedel, " writes Mykhailo Yukhimenko (Football24.ua, 25.09.24).
"I believe that at the end of the first half Dynamo awarded a goal, and maybe two. If they had scored, then it would have been possible to turn back the intrigue and after the break everything could have turned out differently, " said former Ukraine national team player Vitaliy Kosovskiy (Sport.ua, 26.09.24).
Thus, again, as after Salzburg, we are talking about the problems of the young Kyiv team with the realization of the chances created by it: if Lazio flawlessly used their three chances out of the obvious four or five, Dynamo failed to penetrate the Italian goalkeeper, who had caught the fancy.
But at the same time, as noted in a number of materials, Dynamo made it clear that at the Europa League level they are capable of creating certain problems for the defense of any opponent. And this is certainly a positive nuance: if there are chances, goals will come.
According to the media, it is also important that our team showed character: they did not give up and looked for happiness in attack till the last.
"Dynamo" found the strength to show a true fighting spirit and not to allow the strongest for many indicators, good soccer legion to put themselves in the capitulation. No! Shovkovs'kyi's team left the stadium in Hamburg with their heads up. Not without points, " Denys Borysenko shares his impressions (Footclub.com.ua, 25.09.24).
The reports devoted to the match in Hamburg also say that the lesson from Lazio should undoubtedly benefit Dynamo. The coaching staff received clear information about what aspects of the game should be worked on in the first place. And the young players have gained a certain percentage of the very experience that gives quality over time.
Vitaliy Kosovskiy gave an interesting and illustrative example in projection on young Dynamo centerbacks:
"It is worth mentioning that when the center backs Sergiy Fedorov and Vladislav Vashchuk debuted in the team during Dynamo's "golden" years, they were also not graceless. But they gradually gained experience and became real masters thanks to their hard work. I believe that this path will be followed by Dynamo today. Andit's just these matches that show us which shortcomings we should pay attention to" (Sport.ua, 26.09.24).
And, perhaps, the key message of the press: failure in the 1st round of the Europa League main stage is not a reason to shroud our heads in ashes. The tournament has just started, the main battles are ahead. And the opponents there will be not only from the top championships.
"There are seven more matches, in which there will be a possibility to gain points and get into the top-24 of the main round of the Europa League. Let's hope so, Dynamo's game was far from hopeless" (Sport.ua, 25.09.24).
"For the general understanding it is worth mentioning that numerous computer simulations gave the need for 9-10 points to pass in the sticky matches" (Footboom1.com.ua, 25.09.24).
Soccer ball diplomacy
The Dynamo vs Lazio match undoubtedly became the leader of the reporting week in terms of the number of publications. Among them the interview of Dynamo president Igor Surkis to the German edition Hamburger Abendblatt, which was rebroadcasted by many domestic media, stands out.
In his usual frank manner Ihor Surkis told the foreign audience in detail about what and how he manages to keep Ukrainian soccer afloat during the war and how our country lives in general in the conditions of Russian aggression.
Paying tribute to his colleagues - club presidents, who did not abandon the teams in a difficult moment, Igor Surkis outlined the realities in which the matches of the national championship take place on the example of Dynamo:
"Dynamo trains in Kyiv and during 18 years of traveling to the matches in the Eurocups plays the matches of the championship also in Kyiv. For the sake of our fans, for the sake of our families. The matches of the championship are canceled, if there is a wind alarm, the teams, journalists and fans go straight to the bunker. No one is left in the stadium bowl until the alarm is canceled.
For each stadium the authorities allow a certain number of spectators, which can be accommodated by the stadium bunker. For example, our stadium "Dynamo" in the center of Kiev can accommodate 16000 people, but we sell only 1700 tickets for the match. Our bunker can accommodate this number" (Fcdynamo.com, 24.09.24).
Of course, the topic of Dynamo's European Cup matches was touched upon. The Dynamo president reminded that for two and a half years of the war the Kyivians had hosted their opponents at five foreign stadiums. In Polish Lodz, Krakow and Lublin, in Romanian Bucharest, and now - in German Hamburg. First of all, Igor Surkis explained, the options with cities where a large number of compatriots live were considered:
"The first priority is not so much the support of the team as the positive emotions of Ukrainians, who became refugees and went to Europe: whose houses were destroyed by Russian missiles, whose men and women are now fighting for Ukraine's victory at the cost of their lives.
Soccer exists for the fans and for the sake of the fans. At our matches Ukrainians at least for a few years forget about the horrible war at home, switch to positive emotions. They get to know each other, talk to each other... at least for a few years they feel like a good team" (Komentator.net, 24.09.24).
Thus, the president of Dynamo once again made it clear how important social role soccer plays in the life of society. Especially now - during the war.
"Russia wanted to bring "Ruskiy peace" to Ukraine, - states the president of the Kyiv club. - However, it managed to unite Ukraine and Ukrainians. The people became united. It has turned into a fist, which will strike back. While one part of Ukrainians is fighting the Russians on the battlefield, the other part is building infrastructure, making financial collections and helping our soldiers" (Sport.ua, 24.09.24) .
It is impossible to get used to war, the Dynamo president admits, telling a German journalist about life in today's Ukraine: you never know what civilian object or just a residential building will become the next target of Russian terrorists, almost every night sirens sound, explosions rumble, people die....
The whole world must know about the barbarity that Russian soldiers do every day to our country," emphasizes Igor Mikhailovich. - Europe realizes that Ukraine is restricting Russia, which is a shield of its peace. If Ukraine had surrendered, the aggressor would have gone further... I do not even want to think about it. That is why we are grateful to all civilized countries for financial and humanitarian assistance to our country, for understanding and support" (Sportarena.com, 24.04.24).
Igor Surkis' interview to Hamburger Abendblatt is clearly designed for the Western audience. The Dynamo president used every phrase, clearly arranging assessments, accents and priorities, and was clearly ready to go beyond purely soccer topics. Using the popularity of the number one sport and the international authority of Dynamo Kyiv as tools, he tried to convey to the German audience the maximum of truthful information about the terrible period our country is going through.
Viktor ZHURAVLEV
