Ihor Khudobyak: «We have a very good chance to get past Belgium»

The former midfielder of Lviv’s Karpaty, Ihor Khudobyak, commented on the results of the draw for the playoff round of the Nations League for the right to compete in Division «A» of the tournament, which placed the Belgium national team as Ukraine’s opponent.

«The Belgium national team is a very good team. Right now, I can say that it is a top team, but with some reservations. Lately, they have slowed down a bit, but they have very good players in their squad. They are the strongest opponent from all possible teams we could have faced, the sixth team in the FIFA rankings. Yes, according to the matches in the Nations League, it is evident that the team is stalling. By the results and how they play, it seems to me that they have something in common with the Ukraine national team — they do not win in matches where they are considered favorites.

I also hope that these two matches will be more exciting than the meeting at the Euro, where the Belgians played a very defensive game. It’s good that now we will not underestimate our opponent, only maximum concentration, which is a small plus for the Ukraine national team. If we get past Belgium, it will be a sensation, as there is a large gap in the rankings. But still, I think we have a very good chance because Belgium is not showing the football they can play. But there are still four months, and a lot can change in that time. These matches will be very interesting to watch,» said Khudobyak.