Oleg Fedorchuk: “If we neutralize Kvaratskhelia, the chances of the Ukrainian national team will increase”

On November 16, the national football team of Ukraine will play another match in the Nations League — against Georgia. The well-known coach and now also an authoritative expert Oleg Fedorchuk shared his thoughts on which positions in the Ukrainian team raise concerns ahead of the confrontation in Batumi:

— First of all, in my opinion, the class of our guys is higher than that of the hosts, and the squad is more balanced. If only the players approached the match in fighting shape and demonstrated their best qualities.

— In your opinion, what “trump cards” do the Georgians have that could prevent the Ukrainians from winning?

— There is a player in the hosts’ squad that fans come to see. That is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Such recognition must be earned, and of course, next Saturday, the leader of Napoli will lead his teammates. Therefore, a lot will depend on whether our right-back Yukhym Konoplia can handle the ambitious Georgian. If, through joint efforts, thanks to anticipating play and reliable support, they manage to complicate Kvaratskhelia’s life, then the chances of achieving a positive result will increase.

Secondly, the position of the holding midfielder raises concerns. Who will the coach Serhiy Rebrov choose? Dynamo player Volodymyr Brazhko has returned from injury but his club-level performance is not impressive, while Ivan Kaliuzhny shows maximum commitment, although it remains to be seen if he will have the speed to compete with the mobile Georgian midfielders. Especially since Kvaratskhelia loves to shift from the left flank into the central zone.

— But the lack of playing practice was present in a whole group of players of the Ukrainian national team, besides Brazhko.

— This is also concerning because our legionnaires have not made it to the starting lineup not only due to health issues but also because of their playing qualities. We are talking about Oleksandr Zinchenko, Roman Yaremchuk, Mykhailo Mudryk. And one cannot envy Rebrov, as he has always emphasized that he would prefer those who have playing practice. This imbalance can negatively affect the actions of the Ukrainian national team.

— There are also problems with our attacking leader Artem Dovbyk.

— This is yet another reason for concern. Unfortunately, Dovbyk has gaps in his football education which hinder him from fulfilling his scoring mission in Italy, where defenses are solid. What do we have in the end: Dovbyk does not score, and Yaremchuk is on the bench at Olympiacos. There is also Dynamo player Vladyslav Vanat, but he is not noticeable on the international stage. Sad.

— So, how to win in Batumi?

— This will be a tough encounter for both teams. There is hope that our goalkeeper will be on point, that the midfielders will delight with creativity, that someone among them will hit the target, and that Fortune will smile upon the guests. Still, I lean towards a high-scoring draw.

Andriy Pysarenko