Honored coach of Ukraine Myron Markevych shared his expectations for the final matches of the Ukrainian national team in the Nations League of the current season — against Georgia (November 16, Batumi) and Albania (November 19, Tirana).
Myron Markevych— Myron Bohdanovych, our national team finds itself in a situation of all or nothing. Do you remember, will we be able to exit this difficult situation with dignity?
— I think so. It will not be easy, on the side of the same Georgia national team, there will be tremendous fan support. It is always difficult to play there. Moreover, the Georgians have suffered two consecutive defeats and, like us, risk losing their place in League B. The game will be hard for both opponents, but we have to win.
— What is the basis of your confidence?
— I believe that our team is stronger. In the Georgian national team, only Khvicha Kvaratskhelia plays at a high level, he is a star in the Italian championship. The rest of the players are solid, but they play for teams that do not make an impact in their championships — either in Greece, France, or Cyprus. In the Ukrainian national team, the players are more qualified, individually stronger. We just need to realize our potential and be psychologically prepared.
— What allowed our footballers to completely neutralize Kvaratskhelia in the first match between Ukraine and Georgia? He, if he attempted to sharpen the attack, did so only during set pieces.
— They did not let him play. He was constantly monitored by our players, played under pressure, and could not apply his technical advantages. Yes, he is a strong footballer, but Kvaratskhelia was forced to play less offensively. The Ukrainians disciplined that match. I expect that in Batumi the match will go according to our scenario.
— The flank where Kvaratskhelia operates is noticeably undermanned for us. There will be no Tymchyk, Tsyhankov, Yarmolenko. These are significant losses.
— I wouldn’t dramatize this issue. We have Konoplia. In recent matches, both at the club and the national team level, he has looked good. There is Zubkov, who is currently in decent form, and can perform even better, he has great potential. Hutsuliak maintains a high level, scores in every second match. I don’t know who Rebrov will release from the first minutes, but anyone among the named players will perform well on our right flank.
Add Mudryk, Zinchenko, Sudakov, Kaluzhny, Bragko here — we have a good team. We need to believe in ourselves and realize our potential. Go out and win.
— Our players shoot little at goal. Now Malinovsky is also injured. How to solve this problem?
— That is the job of the national team’s head coach, he has to solve it. It’s not about Malinovsky. We have players who can shoot from various distances. It's simple: any attack must end with a shot on goal. And from there, it’s just a matter of luck.
— Not from a good life, but Serhiy Rebrov decided to change and rejuvenate the squad during the tournament. He previously called up Hutsuliak, Kaluzhny, and Nazarenko, now Sych will replace Tymchyk. Is such a risk justified?
— At some point, he would have to face this. I wouldn’t say there are radical changes, and fresh blood always helps. It's good that he is giving opportunities to players. And now we will have to play every two days. Fresh players will be needed. There is a choice.
For example, Mudryk could start the match, and Nazarenko could come on as a substitute, or Hutsuliak could start, while Zubkov could continue. Nazarenko and Hutsuliak can deliver a decisive blow at any moment. It’s no coincidence that both are, along with Sudakov, the top scorers in the Ukrainian championship. They are on the right track, so let them observe, feel the pressure. Rebrov has a good selection of players.
— Did Oleksiy Sych also get called up to feel the pressure?
— Sych looks good in "Rukh". He played for the youth national team and went to the Olympics. He has some experience, but he is a debutant in the national team. I think Konoplia will play, he is more experienced. In this position, one will have to neutralize Kvaratskhelia. However, if Sych gets a chance to play, he will not let us down, he will not spoil the team’s play. Especially since the guys have been preparing for six days. The coach sees who is in the best shape.
— In your opinion, will Rebrov choose a game in the central zone triangle down or up?
— Again, the coach knows best. Personally, I prefer playing with two defensive midfielders. It’s more secure that way. And what tactics Rebrov will use — we will see on Saturday. In such a setup, he can start the match, and then make adjustments. It will all depend on the situation on the field and the level of fatigue among the players. Because they play in national championships and European competitions. Some can withstand a tight schedule, while others need more time to recover.
— After Georgia, we will have a final match — against Albania, which we lost to while leading. Was the opponent that strong, or did our national team underestimate them?
— The current Albanian national team is far from what it was even five years ago. They have a number of players of quite a good level, playing for solid Serie A clubs in Italy. The Albanians won the qualifying group for the European Championship against Poland and the Czech Republic, and at the Euro they were not just pushovers in the company of Croatia, Italy, and Spain. A strong team, but in my opinion, we should have beaten them. I hope that in the return match we will play better against them.
Georgia and Albania currently look good. However, we must prevail over them.
— How many points will the Ukrainian national team earn in these matches?
— We will earn at least four points.
— That may not be enough in the fight for promotion.
— Yes, I understand. You asked for my prediction. My desire is for our national team to score six points.
Hennadiy Chekhovskyi
