Former Dynamo Kyiv forward Viktor Khlus shared his impressions about the match of the 4th round of the Nations League between the national teams of Ukraine and Czech Republic (1:1), which took place last Monday in Wroclaw.
Viktor Khlus- I have nothing to say, " the specialist began his story with disappointment in his voice, " Expectations from this game were much higher than what we actually saw.
In my opinion, our team was superior to the Czech team in terms of individual skill of performers. However, I was very disappointed with what I saw yesterday in the Wroclaw match. I did not even see the aggression that was in the Ukrainians' game against Georgia. However, maybe they had it, but they didn't have the strength.
We all saw that the Czechs simply outplayed us, outrun us. How, tell me, can you play without chances and shots on goal? For me, as a former soccer player and a Ukrainian citizen, this result can be considered decent. But in fact, what we saw on the field disappointed us all.
- Especially when you consider that in November they will face the leader, the national team of Georgia, which managed to lose at home to Albania.
- Let's go ahead and try to predict what could be in the next two matches of our national team. Both matches we play away - in Georgia and Albania. Tell me, please, after the Georgians lost two matches in a row, the day before - on their own field, can they afford to lose?
I watched the broadcast of Georgia vs Albania from start to finish, so I can say that the home team lost for no reason. Already in the first half Georgians looked more convincing, and in the second half they seized the initiative completely. The ratio was about 70-30 in their favor. Willy Sanyol's team had favorable moments, they could have scored. But a miracle happened: the Georgians lost at home.
And now the Ukraine national team will have to face the team that four days ago lost the first of the two October meetings. You can imagine with what feelings and mood Georgians will be waiting for us in Tbilisi. The same can be said about the other opponent of Sergei Rebrov's team - the national team of Albania, which on its field in the final match will strive to win by all means.
The worst thing is that at the end of the group round of the Nations League we can "fly out" and in the future play, say, with the Faroe Islands. It seems to me that the worst scenario for our national team could not be imagined. So, if we really "fly out", then next year will be... happy. Why? Because we will play with representatives of those countries, against whom we can play even with five players. That's why expectations about the final matches in the Nations League are quite alarming.
- Don`t you have good hopes?
- Obviously, with a good set of circumstances, our main team can finish first. However, to do this, we need to "spank" both opponents. However, in case of getting 10 final points it is also difficult to be the first. Competitors cannot write zeros in the meetings between themselves, can they? That's why it's all sad for us. After all, the Ukrainian national team by the selection of performers in general gave us reasons for the highest expectations. But... Take, say, the recent match with Georgia. Yes, we won 1-0, but the Georgians outplayed us.
- What is your overall impression of the current Nations League?
- You know, you can judge about this tournament at least by the current events. The Nations League is so interesting that it is very difficult to predict the balance of power in the fight in this or that group. For example, today you may be first in the table, and tomorrow - last. More than once we have witnessed unpredictable results, when an openly weak team can take points away from the favorite.
Andriy Pisarenko
