Honored Coach of Ukraine Myron Markevych commented on the application of the Ukrainian national team for the October matches of the League of Nations (against Georgia and the Czech Republic).
Myron Markevych. Photo — fckarpaty.org.ua
- Speaking of Rebrov's roster for the matches against Georgia and the Czech Republic, was it surprising to you that Andriy Yarmolenko was only in the reserve, and Serhiy Sydorchuk did not wait for an invitation at all?
- I don't find Yarmolenko's absence from the main list surprising, just like the fact that Sydorchuk didn't receive an invitation. I see no point in calling Andriy and Serhiy. They have already given everything they could to the national team. Yarmolenko and Sydorchuk are not strong helpers for the Ukrainian national team. We need to involve young people, give the younger generation a chance, it's time to hear new names. Our U-21 team is playing well. That's where we need to look for new names for the main team of the country, I think.
When, if not in the matches of the League of Nations? We understand that Rebrov's main task is to make it to the 2026 World Cup with the national team.
- Goalkeeping position: Georgii Bushchan (Dynamo Kyiv), Anatolii Trubin (Benfica, Portugal), Andrii Lunin (Real Madrid, Spain).
- Everything here is clear, logical and predictable. Our unchanged trio in recent years. I think Trubin will be our first choice, and Bushchan will be his backup, because Lunin has no practice at Real Madrid.
Riznyk looks pretty good in matches for Shakhtar, but it's very difficult for Dmytro to break into the team, given the opposition.
- Defense: Mykola Matvienko, Yukhym Konoplya, Valerii Bondar (all of Shakhtar), Oleksandr Tymchyk (Dynamo), Bohdan Mykhailichenko (Polissia), Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton, England), Ilya Zabarnyi (Bournemouth, England), Maksym Taloverov (LASK, Austria).
- Speaking of defenders, it's worth saying that there is no one in particular to call up. The best players have been selected. The only one who could strengthen the defense is Popov from Dynamo, but he has not fully healed his injury.
As for Zinchenko's absence, no matter who says that he hasn't had a full game practice at Arsenal this season, it is definitely a loss. With his experience, he would definitely come in handy. Let him get better.
- Midfielders: Mykola Shaparenko, Volodymyr Brazhko, Vladyslav Kabaev, Oleksandr Pikhalonok (all of Dynamo), Taras Stepanenko, Heorhiy Sudakov, Dmytro Kryskiv, Oleksandr Zubkov (all of Shakhtar), Oleksiy Hutsulyak (Polissya), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea, England), Viktor Tsygankov (Girona, Spain).
- Among the surprises in this lineup, only Hutsulyak's return to the national team camp can be considered as such, but he is playing very well in the UPL now and deserved a call from Rebrov. Five goals in the Ukrainian league is a great indicator for a winger, but what about his "rough work"? That's where there may be questions.
- Forwards: Artem Dovbyk (Roma, Italy), Roman Yaremchuk (Olympiacos, Greece), Vladyslav Vanat (Dynamo, Ukraine).
- All the strongest performers today. There are no questions here.
- What do you think of the debut call-up to the national team of Shakhtar's central midfielder Dmytro Kryskiv, who is to replace Ruslan Malynovskyi?
- Kryskiv and Malynovskyi are slightly different midfielders, because Dmytro plays more in defense, he is focused on defense, and Ruslan is more creative. Actually, I think so, that's why he was called up, because the Ukrainian national team has enough problems in the support area. Serious problems.
- Reserve list: Dmytro Riznyk (Shakhtar), Oleksandr Svatok (Austin, USA), Oleksandr Martyniuk (Oleksandriya), Andriy Yarmolenko, Vitaliy Buyalsky (both Dynamo), Artem Bondarenko, Danylo Sikan (both Shakhtar), Oleksandr Nazarenko (Polissya).
- Nazarenko should not be on the reserve list, but on the main one. Oleksandr has good speed, he is, as they say, on the move, scoring in almost every match. Given that Ukraine does not play very fast up front, he would have come in handy.
Instead, the presence of Svatko, who plays in the United States, is natural. And in general, it makes no sense to call a player from overseas, given the flight time of at least ten hours.
- What are Ukraine's chances of taking the first two places in the group, given the zero points after the first two matches, where the Blue and Yellows lost to Albania (1-2) and the Czech Republic (2-3)?
- There are chances. We need to win four matches - that's all. And this is a very realistic task. Georgia, the Czech Republic, and Albania are all within our grasp. We can and should beat them. If we had Spain or England in our group, it would be a different conversation, but it's not worth saying in advance that we no longer have any chances of taking first or second place or that we have few chances.
- After the match in Prague against the Czech Republic (2-3), one of the journalists openly asked Rebrov if he was going to resign. Isn't there too much criticism of Serhiy Stanislavovych? Or has he really earned it, given the results at Euro 2024, and it's really time for him to say goodbye to the national team?
- Rebrov started the League of Nations with the national team, and he should at least be allowed to finish this tournament as the head of Ukraine. And whether he will be fired or not afterwards... It all depends on the result, of course. If he manages to improve the defense, first of all, then I'm sure everything will be fine, the victories will come.
Yes, it will be difficult to win the first place after two defeats at the start, but it is quite possible if we correct our mistakes. In general, we shouldn't throw around such personnel as Rebrov. He just needs to be a little more courageous, bring in more young players, and, once again, improve his defense, and everything will be fine.
Viktor Glukhenkyi
