Leonid Buryak: "The search for the game of the national team of Ukraine continues..."

Former head coach of Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team Leonid Buryak analyzed yesterday's match of the 4th round of the Nations League Ukraine - Czech Republic (1:1).

- "We expected a difficult match for the Ukrainian national team, and these expectations were confirmed, " said Buriak. " We have a team, talented players and a coach, but no result. Unfortunately, the national team of Ukraine does not know how to act, the search is still ongoing...

First of all, I noticed that our midfield should create chances, but instead it is engaged in menial work. And also - very few shots on goal. Previously, our teams were distinguished by the fact that they hit a lot. And now the national team has a lot of players who can shoot on goal, and this will be a very effective weapon in any match. Football consists primarily of shots. And now our national team is always playing something near the opponents' penalty area, and because they lack skill, there are clippings and dangerous counterattacks on our goal.

- Did the Czech Republic manage to impose its football on us?

- Yes, I really liked the Czech national team, especially in the first half. Cherv made a good impression with his performance, scoring our goal. After the break, when the Czechs got physically tired, they lost the initiative. However, they are still a well-organized team, a strong opponent.

- Could the Ukrainian national team have pressed the Czechs at the end of the match?

- Our national team has to play differently. In addition to the desire to achieve a result, our players need to demonstrate a spectacular game, because fans come to the stands and expect something special from Dovbyk, Shaparenko, Mudryk... The spectacle gives inspiration, creates problems for the opponent, and ultimately gives the same result. And we currently have a lot of deficiencies, especially in the midfield.

Of course, in these double-headers, the Ukrainian national team always plays the second match worse. It is more difficult for those of our players who play actively and move a lot. That's why creative performers should take the lead, but in the match against the Czech Republic we had problems with the last pass...

- Before the goal, there was an unfortunate episode - a collision of the players' heads and an injury to Hutsulyak. Should the referee have stopped the game immediately? In this case, the Czech goal would not have happened...

- Don't look for something like that... It was a fight, and such collisions happen. Cherv scored during the attack and scored a goal. Moreover, the ball did not come out from under the players who collided with their heads. Everything happened instantly, very dynamically, and the referee acted correctly. I repeat, this happens. Nothing happened to the Czech, but our player, Hutsulyak, was injured. I had two concussions in my career, I came to my senses only in the locker room, and then I didn't play for 15 days.

- In the episode when the Czech defender played with his hand and the referee gave a penalty in our favor, was the Ukrainian national team lucky?

- Everything was at the referee's discretion. As I understood it, the Czech tried to play with his shoulder, but he raked the ball with his hand... The last touch was by hand, so the 11-meter penalty was undoubtedly awarded. In general, I would say that a draw is a fair result of this match. If we wanted more, we need to better utilize the potential of players like Dovbyk, Yaremchuk and Mudryk, for example. The first two need high-quality flank work of the national team, passes for them, and Mudryk, of course, needs to be loaded differently. The downside is that our team creates few absolute chances.

- Can you mention anyone in the national team of Ukraine?

- Trubin played steadily. We can also mention Zabarnyi, who has grown a lot as a footballer, Shaparenko has done a lot of work. Unfortunately, there was no necessary performance from Sudakov.

- What finish awaits our national team?

- Two difficult trips, which will be complicated by the fatigue of the national team after matches for clubs - a busy season is in full swing. In no case should we underestimate the Albanian national team. I watched the Albanians defeat Georgia and enjoyed the football they played. This victory was well deserved. The individual skill of the Albanian team is impressive.

I also liked the game of the Georgian national team, which dominated, especially on their home field, where it is always very difficult for opponents, and it will not be easy for our team. I think that if we achieve a draw against these teams, it will also be good. In any case, the players of the national team of Ukraine, I have no doubt, have motivation, a goal, and a great opportunity to prove their class.

Oleg Semenchenko