Former Ukraine national team player Vladimir Mikitin commented on the Nations League game Georgia - Ukraine, which ended in a 1:1 draw.
— Both teams played at a similar level, and as a result — a draw. Does this correspond to what happened on the field?
— I think that’s exactly how it was. The score reflected the game. Our team played two different halves. In the first half, they defended very disciplinarily and organized, especially in the midfield. The Georgians had few chances to score. And the Ukrainian national team, after scoring a quick goal, played purely defensively, ceding initiative to the hosts. With such play, Mudrik had another chance to increase the score, and then everything would have been different. When it was already 2:0 — that’s a good chance to finish what was started to a logical conclusion. In the second half, we were too close to our own goal, it should be noted that the hosts forced us to play that way.
— The Georgian national team surprised me a bit. If they were previously famous for their individual technique but were lacking in physical conditioning, now they have improved in that area. Trailing in the second half, they found the strength to change the course of the game, impose their style, and made our national team nervous.
— This is the strongest Georgian national team I remember. In terms of level, we are similar to the Georgians. If we compare Georgia from recent years and now, there is a huge difference. Yes, the players used to be individually strong, technical, but there was no game discipline; now the hand of coach Sagnol is evident. It’s no wonder they invited a foreign specialist. He has implemented his game without adjusting to the opponent. There is already game discipline, and if it exists, the footballers must be well physically prepared, and we saw that. Previously, when the team was losing, they could fall apart on the field, unable to endure, to overcome themselves. In this match, such negative qualities remained in the past. The team transformed and showed itself in the best light. They played particularly well in the second half, managed to adapt, and turned the game to their advantage. Indeed, our players found it very difficult.
— Did our national team’s tactic of playing as a second team, acting on counterattacks, justify itself? And if we had played open football, could the result have been different?
— Certainly, Rebrov and his assistants studied the opponent’s game well. The main task was to deny them space, not to let them break loose, especially Kvaratskhelia, and in the first half this was achieved. The hosts created almost nothing. If Ukraine had gone on the attack from the first minutes, opened up, and played open football, it’s hard to imagine how everything would have turned out. I think the right tactic was chosen for this game. To attack and play offensively, one needs to press often, and that’s not always possible for us. To be honest, our midfield isn’t strong in terms of defensive play. However, when we play disciplined defense, we have compact coverage with interceptions and striking counterattacks, this element is adjusted at the right level. An example is the scored goal. And, of course, the illustrative counterattack in the 93rd minute when Hutsuliak and Nazarenko missed twice.
— Undoubtedly, due to those two saves, the best player of the Georgian national team was goalkeeper Mamardashvili. And who can we highlight from our side?
— Mamardashvili played excellently not only in those two cases but also saved throughout the whole match. As I mentioned earlier, in the first half he won the duel against Mudrik. An excellent goalkeeper! Our national team deserves praise for Zabarniy. The pillar of defense. He is our Ukrainian Beckenbauer. A solid performance at such a young age. I would also highlight the reliable play of our goalkeeper Trubin. Remember his impeccable tackle in a one-on-one situation.
— After the game, Rebrov said: "With such errors, it’s very difficult to win." What did he mean? In what components were the errors present?
— Probably in the build-up from defense when we regained the ball, tried to counterattack and not always succeeded. In the second half, the Georgians forced us to make mistakes with their active actions. There were errors in passing from defense. Perhaps this is what the head coach meant. Or maybe it’s about the two missed crucial goal-scoring chances in the 93rd minute when victory seemed so close. After all, that is an error too.
— What can we wish for the next game of the national team?
— I would like the national team to play two equal halves. What I liked against the Georgians — the team came out concentrated. The opponents’ penetration from the half-space to the flanks, as the hosts like to play, was all read and intercepted by our players, and the Georgians did not know what to do. Albania is not an easy opponent. Their victory in the first match was not accidental. We are only waiting for a victory to keep our chances alive for the future.
Serhiy Shebek