On the eve of the 2024/2025 Nations League match against the Czech Republic, the head coach of the Ukrainian national team Serhii Rebrov answered journalists' questions at a pre-match press conference.
Serhiy Rebrov (photo: uaf.ua)- What was the team's personnel situation before the game?
- Unfortunately, Dmytro Riznyk was injured, he went to his club to recover. We called him back later, we are grateful to him for coming, he worked well. I hope that he will quickly return to the national team. There are micro-injuries, but I hope all the players will be ready for tomorrow.
-In this regard, can wesee Rustam Khudzhamov in the application for the game?
- Unfortunately, we can't call anyone up now, because it's too late, we need to get permission to leave. I can say that Rustam helps us in the training process.
- How ready is Taras Stepanenko to play? Does Ivan Kalyuzhny have enough strength, because he worked hard on the field in the previous match?
- He still has a day to recover. Taras is working in the general group, we'll see tomorrow. Ivan still has time to recover. He has no injury, he was tired at the end of the game, but nothing serious.
- Do you think many Ukrainian spectators will come to the game tomorrow? Do you know how many Ukrainian supporters are allowed to enter the stadium? Do you hope for the same support as you had a month ago in Prague?
- If the stadium is full, we will be very happy. Any game in Poland or the Czech Republic is a holiday for Ukrainians, of whom there are many. We will be grateful to everyone who comes to support us. There are a lot of people who want to come, I don't know how many tickets we have sold, but I am sure that tomorrow there will be a very good atmosphere for both teams.
- What has changed in the Czech national team in a month?
- Nothing has changed. They played their previous game with almost the same lineup. This team hasn't changed its lineup in many years. Yes, after losing the first game, they changed a lot of players. They have a very good squad, with several high-level players for each position. We are preparing very seriously. We must respect the opponent, but think about our game.
- Ukraine did not start the Nations League very well. There were talks that we could use these matches to recruit personnel for the national team, and most importantly , to qualify for the World Cup. Now the situation in our group is completely different. Has the approach to the League of Nations changed now?
- There are no changes. I have never said that we consider this tournament solely as a preparation. We can get to the World Cup through it, so every game is important. But we have to give young players a chance, those who have proven themselves in the Ukrainian and European championships. We have called up enough players who are proving themselves in the league. Any game of the Ukrainian national team is a holiday, an event for the whole country. That's why we are gearing up to win tomorrow, we will do everything for this.
- Will you miss such players as Andriy Yarmolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko tomorrow, who will not be able to help the team?
- These are very important players for the national team. Unfortunately, they are currently injured. If you saw the game against Georgia, those players who came out in the main lineup and as substitutes showed Ukrainian character, that we want and can win. Tomorrow, unfortunately, we will be without these players, but we have players who can replace them.
