Former Ukrainian national team defender Oleksandr Koval, who was on the Blue and Yellows' squad for the Russia-Ukraine match in Moscow, spoke about the disdain from Russian fans, his belief in a positive outcome, and Filimonov's despair.
- His memories and impressions of the match against Russia in Moscow in 1999 were positive. The game was generally even, and Shevchenko scored the equalizer in the end, so they are only positive. There was no hostility from Russian fans then, but there was a sense of disdain, as if the Ukrainian national team was second rate.
When Russia took the lead in that match, I wanted to get back at them, to prove that we were not worse than them. I believed that we could do it, it's football, you have to play to the last minute. When Shevchenko scored, I ran to him together with the whole team and head coach Jozsef Szabo. Everyone rejoiced, hugged, and experienced only good emotions. After this goal, Filimonov was depressed, I think he was very upset that he made such a mistake at the end of the match.
After the match, Putin came to our locker room, but I don't remember what he said verbatim. They say that he thanked us for the game and congratulated us on the result we needed, but his face showed that he was not sincere.
And when we were leaving the stadium, Russian fans started throwing stones and bottles at our bus. It was unpleasant for us, and we still have negative emotions. At that moment, there was no fear, we were accompanied by police, but their one car would not have done anything against the invasion of fans. If they had continued to attack the bus, it would have been difficult to fight off the fans... On the way home, we celebrated, congratulated each other, because this game was important, everyone was happy.
We also received bonuses then, I don't remember what they were, but it was definitely more than a thousand dollars. And the watch that was given to me remained in Donetsk," Koval said.